Danone subsidiary Fan Milk Ghana has reported a 12% fall in revenues in 2020 to GH¢373.6m ($65.0m). The company has blamed the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw its street vendors unable to operate during the lockdown in April 2020.

Although the cost of sales and operating expenses both fell, profit before tax fell by 97.9% year on year to GH¢0.80m (US$139,000). Profit after tax went down by 97.6%.

Fan Milk company blames the pandemic. The company produces a range of frozen yoghurts, ice creams , ice lollies and fruit drinks as well as chocolates. Its brands include FanYogo, FanIce, FanDango, FanPop and FanChoco.

Actually, Ghana actually had one of the shortest lockdowns: 3 weeks, which ended on the 20th April. Even then, the lockdown was only partial and had only been implemented in Accra and Kumasi.

There was an impact on sales of impulse products in Ghana as a result of the closure of beaches, schools and universities, hotels, bars and restaurants. But by May 11th, even hotels, bars and restaurants had been allowed to re-open, albeit with social distancing in place.

However, Google mobility data for Ghana show that all through 2020, visits to non-residential locations were below where they were at the start of the pandemic. Workplaces were particularly heavily affected, suffering sharp drops in visits not only during lockdown but also May, July, August and December. Even now, workplace visits are around 40% below baseline.