Delta Galil and Naot Operational in Israel Despite War
War wages on between Israel and terrorist organization Hamas, as Israeli officials report 1,200 deaths and Palestinian officials cite an additional 1,100 deaths in Gaza since the conflict erupted on Oct. 7. Companies with headquarters, facilities and stores in Israel have made decisions on whether to cease operations or continue with business despite the current geopolitical climate.
Big retailers like H&M and Inditex, which owns Zara, have ceased operations in Israel until further notice.
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But not all brands have done the same, with some continuing to operate factories and operations.
Delta Galil, the intimates and activewear company headquartered in Caesarea, Israel, is operating but with workforce modifications, according to its CEO, Isaac Dabah.
“Delta Galil is fully operational in Israel, although the safety of our employees is our top priority,” Dabah told Sourcing Journal. “We have adapted to the security situation by allowing employees to work from home, except for those whose roles require an on-site presence.”
Dabah said he expects the company’s global operations to remain as close to normal as possible.
“From an operational standpoint, we anticipate minimal impact due to our global presence. However, we expect a significant slowdown in retail operations in Israel due to mall closures and stay-at-home orders,” he said.
According to Dabah, the company has donated Delta Galil socks, underwear and T-shirts to individuals impacted by the ongoing events in Israel.
To date, Dabah said Delta Galil has not lost any employees to the attacks, but that some have been called into active reserves. In Israel, military service is compulsory for citizens over the age of 18 who are Jewish, Druze or Circassian, with some exceptions.
“Fortunately, no Delta Galil associates or their immediate family members have been physically harmed by the terror attacks. However, many of our employees have relatives, friends or acquaintances who were hurt, injured or killed in the last several days. Additionally, many of our associates have been called into active reserve duty. We anxiously await their safe return,” he said.
Meanwhile, Naot, the footwear maker headquartered in Melville, New York, which has a factory in Kibbutz Neot Mordechai, Israel, and stores throughout the Middle Eastern nation, said that while it has closed its stores, its manufacturing facility remains open for the time being.
“The factory is open on a limited basis. We are taking it one day at a time, and making sure it is safe for all of our employees and team. Our stores in Israel remain closed and will do so until we feel it is safe and appropriate for them to reopen,” Ayelet Lax Levy, Naot’s president for U.S. operations, said. “We are honored to have a very resilient team that is coming together and supporting each other.”
Lax Levy said the company has donated some of its products to Israeli soldiers and civilians.
“Naot has donated dozens of shoes and socks to soldiers, and [on Oct. 10], we donated 500 hundred pairs (men’s, women’s and children) for the people evacuated from towns in the south that lost their family and their homes.”
Lax Levy confirmed that the company has not lost any of its employees to the violence.
“Our Naot family and team are all physically accounted for. We all have friends that are missing, we all know someone who died. Many have been called up for active reserve duty. Many have a son or daughter who has been called up to the reserves to try and bring home the hundreds that are missing,” he said.
Aetrex, a leader in foot scanning technology and comfort footwear with a development hub in Israel, also commented on the recent developments in Israel in a statement to FN.
“Aetrex has had a technology development hub in Israel since 2008,” CEO of Aetrex, Inc. Larry Schwartz told FN. “Israel, in many ways, is a small community, and our team members that I spoke with all know people who have been killed or are missing, including women, children and the elderly. We also have employees that have just been called to active military duty. Thankfully, as of now, our team is okay. They’re all in our thoughts and prayers during this extremely difficult time.”
