24 January 2014- As part of their corporate social responsibility campaign, officials and staff of the Häagen Dazs plant in Arras, 182 kilometers north of Paris, has donated €10,000 or around Php 600,000 to the French Red Cross for those affected by Super Typhoon yolanda (Haiyan) which struck the central islands of the Philippines in November 2013.

Representing Philippine Ambassador to France Cristina G. Ortega, was Third Secretary and Vice Consul André Peter C. Estanislao who witnessed the turning over of the cheque to the Red Cross, represented by Red Cross Arras President Roger Ledein. Handing over the donation were Häagen Dazs officials, led by Plant Manager François-Xavier Brehon, Human Resources Manager Jean-François Lescart, and Committee on Solidarity Head Hochede Pascal.

Mr. Estanislao expressed gratitude and appreciation for the generosity of the employees and said that with the support of everyone, including the international community, those affected by the typhoon shall continue to rebuild their homes and their lives. 

Mr. Brehon and Mr. Lescart offered their sympathies to the victims of the typhoon and assured everyone present that Häagen Dazs in Arras is committed to continue providing aid and support to those in need in the international community. Mr. Ledein, for his part, also expressed gratitude to the Häagen Dazs community and also assured everyone that the Red Cross shall continue its humanitarian efforts in the Philippines.

Häagen Dazs is part of the General Mills group of companies. The plant which employs around 3,000 employees is the biggest supplier of Häagen Dazs products in the world. Except for Japan, the United States and Canada, the plant supplies Häagen Dazs products to all other countries that offer their products, including the Philippines. END