P.E.I. lozenge plant lays off 30 workers over ‘almost non-existent’ cold and cough season

CHARLOTTETOWN – A lozenge plant in Prince Edward Island has laid off 30 workers, citing an “almost non-existent” cold and cough season amid COVID-19 restrictions.

Island Abbey Foods said Friday sales of its Honibe cough and cold lozenges have declined in the first two quarters of 2021, forcing the Charlottetown company to cut 30 temporary positions from its production operation.

Measures aimed at curbing the pandemic such as masks, frequent hand washing, physical distancing and working from home appear to have lessened the prevalence of seasonal viruses.

The apparent drop in winter colds across the country seems to have weakened demand for medicine and natural remedies aimed at soothing sore throats and nasal congestion.

Both Metro Inc., which operates drugstores primarily under the Jean Coutu, Brunet, Metro Pharmacy and Drug Basics banners, and Loblaw Companies Ltd., which has a network of Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix outlets, have noted the weak cough and cold season.

Metro president and CEO Eric La Fleche told analysts during a conference call in November that it appeared to be a “much weaker cold and flu season,” as the increase in sanitary measures due to COVID-19 appear to help curb the spread of seasonal viruses.

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Loblaw president Sarah Davis also noted during a call with investors in November that the company was looking at ways to offset a declining trend in the cough and cold sector.

The Public Health Agency of Canada’s weekly influenza report earlier this month said flu activity remains “exceptionally low” for this time of year.

The FluWatch report for the week of Jan. 3 to 9 said flu testing continues at seasonal levels but there is “no evidence of community circulation of influenza.”

Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious disease expert and assistant professor at Dalhousie University, said respiratory viruses like the common cold, seasonal influenza or the coronavirus all spread in similar ways.

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“If you take away the way we spread one virus from person to person, you do the same thing for another virus,” she said, noting that measures to reduce COVID-19 transmission appear to be helping slow the spread of other viruses.

But Barrett said early indications that it will be a weaker cold and flu season this year is also about the reduction in international travel.

“In the beginning of every season, the virus comes from somewhere and that’s related to travel,” she said. “Different respiratory viruses circulate through the hemispheres. If there’s less travel, there’s also less bringing of the virus back to it’s seasonal place.”

For Island Abbey Foods, the decline in demand for its cough and cold lozenges comes on the heels of a “tremendous year” in 2020, said Scott Spencer, president and chief operating officer.

“We increased head count significantly across our company to meet higher than anticipated demand and position our company for success,” he said in a statement.

The Charlottetown company has continuously adapted to the ever-changing business realities that COVID-19 is imposing on the world, he said.

Despite substantial gains with its digital retail strategy, Spencer said online sales have not replaced the volume the company projected for a regular cold and cough season.

The company said demand for its gummy products continues to be strong. It said planning is underway for a major expansion project, which includes state of the art equipment that will increase capacity to meet growing demand.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 20