Freshways have said the operations director of the UK-based dairy firm is now recovering in hospital after contracting coronavirus.

Ravi Nijjar had been in intensive care in an undisclosed hospital on a ventilator support for 13 days before being transferred for emergency treatment to the Brompton Hospital in London, where he was put on an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine for 11 days, a company spokesperson said.

“Ravi has heroically progressed well. Though he remains in hospital, he regained consciousness on Saturday (25 April) and continues to progress,” the statement read. “Doctors have said he will be fine but I suspect it will take a number of weeks for him to regain his strength.”

Freshways, based in Acton, London, is owned by Nijjar Group Holdings. The company produces a full range of dairy products including butter and spreads, fresh milk, yogurt, cream, eggs and cheese. It also supplies bakery items such as bread and flatbreads.