Press Release: 04 Jul 2011

Unique Crisis Management Network launched to support international food companies

Global supply chain issues in the food and drink market are driving the need for a multi-country, specialised crisis service.

Thirteen leading independent communications agencies in Europe, Latin America and Australia have launched the Crisis Management Network (www.crisismanagementnetwork.com), to meet the complex requirements of international food and beverage companies.

The network offers support to internationally-operating companies in the food and drink market (including ingredients, flavours and raw materials) in protecting and enhancing the reputation of the corporation, brands and products by crisis preparation and communication.

Members of the Crisis Management Network are all experts in managing crises and reputational risks in the agri-food market as well as other sectors. They are leading crisis communications agencies in their home markets, seamlessly working together on international reputational issues.

Formerly known as the European Crisis Management Partnership (ECMP), the network has now extended its reach to Latin America and Australia. Countries covered are Argentina (HRC Consultora), Australia (Luttrell and Associates), Brasil (Crescendo and Approach), France (LJ Corp), Germany (Kohl PR und Partner), Hungary (Gülden Communications), Italy (Luigi Norsa & Associati), the Netherlands (Schuttelaar & Partners), Poland (Questia PR), Portugal (Omnicosul), Spain (Gabinete Uribe), and the UK (Razor, part of the College Hill Group).

Chris Woodcock, heading up the UK's partner team, Razor and College Hill, said: “We believe this to be the only international network of its kind and all the indications are that global supply chain issues in the food and drink market are increasingly driving the need for this sort of flexible, coordinated multi-country expertise and instant response.”

Leading the Dutch team at Schuttelaar & Partners, Ad Nagelkerke added: “We are also finding that health, nutrition and food issues are increasingly interwoven with complex sustainability and corporate governance demands. Teams who can offer expertise across this complex web of knowledge and regulation are able to draw together the threads between technical teams and the Boardroom who have to deal with the brand impact.”

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