Employee Nutrition Training
Building a continuous nutrition learning culture within Nestlé is a key element in our journey to become a nutrition, health and wellness company, to provide profitable growth in the future. To support this objective, we have developed the NQ (Nutritional Quotient) training program for employees, based on the principle that nutrition is everybody’s business at Nestlé, irrespective of the area in which employees work.

Nestlé’s expert nutrition knowledge is long-established, centered on the activities of Nestlé Nutrition and our R&D network. The NQ program is designed to widen and increase the knowledge base among employees in other job functions, giving everyone the confidence to apply this knowledge in their work.

The program combines nutritional knowledge with commercial application. For example, when communicating with consumers about balanced diets, the knowledge gained by Nestlé employees through the NQ program will help make nutrition and wellness tangible to consumers, ensuring that Nestlé is regarded as a knowledgeable partner in nutrition matters. Not only this - a major aim of the program is also to help employees make informed and healthy nutrition choices for themselves and their own families.

A modular programme
NQ training comprises engaging modules suitable for all employees, from the Executive Board to plant operators, and leverages the nutrition expertise of Nestlé scientists and health marketing specialists. Implementation began in 2007, with Nestlé nutrition experts and marketing specialists taking part in "train the trainer" sessions across our zones to support the cascade of knowledge to all employees.

Key to the success of the NQ training are interactive, customised modules designed to encourage people to participate and put knowledge into action. These are tailored to specific needs:

• Foundation module: a stand-alone program of learning and development for Nestlé employees whose jobs are principally non consumer or customer facing.
• Advanced module: core learning for staff who are engaged with external bodies and consumers/customers.
• Specialist modules: place particular emphasis on understanding the consumer and application of the Nestlé nutrition and wellness strategy in specific product categories.

A complete toolkit
The NQ program toolkit comprises a suite of materials for trainers, including training manuals and slide sets. For trainees themselves, learning takes place in an engaging way using a variety of media and formats, including interactive games, motivational video content and an on-line quiz. This is used to measure collective progress and to allow each trainee to evaluate, in an entirely confidential way, his or her personal lifestyle choices. The toolkit also comprises awareness-raising and motivational material that can be used and adapted to meet local needs, including posters, questionnaires, certificates and workmats.

Ongoing development
As nutrition and our insights into nutrition evolve, so too will our NQ Nutrition training, helping Nestlé employees to keep abreast of new developments and maintain a high level of credibility through the breadth and depth of our nutrition expertise.