A Poignant Recovery Lesson

Everyone in the country knows the name Procter & Gamble, especially since their recent acquisition of Gillette propelled them into the spotlight as the largest consumer-products supplier in the world.

They were in the news again a couple of weeks ago, as a result of the “KatRita” deluges. The company’s Folgers coffee production plant, the largest coffee plant in the world, sits on the Industrial Canal on the southern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, not far from the New Orleans city center. Within days of the double-whammy dumps of Katrina and Rita, P&G’s chairman, A.G. Lafley, visited the plant, affectionately dubbed “Gentilly” in honor of its surrounding neighborhood, and took steps to ensure that the plant would be operational again ASAP. These steps included speedy flood cleanup, roof repairs, and alternative water-supply service — all necessary steps to bring the plant back up to speed. As of this writing, all the necessary steps were taken and the plant is now almost fully operational.