[SPONSORED REPORTS] OB offers wholesalers a helping hand

On Sept. 3, Oriental Brewery (OB) announced that it was allowing all of its wholesalers to postpone payment on outstanding invoices as a way of sharing the burden of the Covid-19 pandemic.

OB said the decision was made following the recent increase in social distancing measures and the impact it has had on businesses and society.

This is not the first time OB has taken action to assist local businesses and communities struggling as the economy is hit by the pandemic. OB offered a similar payment deferment scheme back in March, when Covid-19 cases spiked across Korea.

OB also provided 1 billion won ($840,000) worth of masks and hand sanitizer to medical specialists in Daegu and North Gyeongsang where the number of cases was especially high back in March.

Earlier this year, OB also donated 8,970 two-liter bottles of water to self-isolating patients.

The company has also been quick to help out when other disasters struck. When Typhoon Maysak tore through Changwon and Sacheon in South Gyeongsang, OB donated 6,720 bottles of water. Geoje, also in South Gyeongsang, also received 2,240 bottles of water from OB after Typhoon Haishen.

“OB aims to coexist and reciprocate with the local communities and entrepreneurs,” said an OB official in a statement. “We find no trouble with going out on a limb to support other businesses in times like this.”

“OB’s greatest allies are small and wholesale businesses. That is why we decided to grant deferred payment to our buyers, to prove our No. 1 position in the Korean beer market is something we have earned and deserve.”

By Ahn Tae-lahm [ahn.taelahm@joongang.co.kr]