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Nestlé has today reported significant progress in its efforts to help end deforestation and restore forests in its cocoa supply chain in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. The company has published its Cocoa & Forests Initiative report (pdf, 17Mb), highlighting key milestones achieved. In 2017, Nestlé joined the Cocoa & Forests Initiative to contribute to ending deforestation. The partnership brings together the governments of Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana with the cocoa and chocolate industry. In March 2019, Nestlé released a detailed plan (pdf, 860Kb) to support these collective efforts and act in its Nestlé Cocoa Plan supply chain.

Over the past months, Nestlé has mapped over 75% of the 120,000 cocoa farms it sources from in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. The boundaries of the plantations have been identified with Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers, ensuring that none of them are located in protected forests. By October this year, all remaining farms will be mapped in the two countries.

Nestlé has scaled up the number of native forest and fruit trees it has distributed in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, from 32,000 in 2018 to now reach a total of more than 560,000. These cast shade on cocoa trees making farms more climate-resilient, while the fruit trees provide additional income for cocoa farmers. The company has also kicked off two agroforestry projects, working closely with communities to maximize shade tree density on farms to help improve yields. Nestlé has continued to train farmers on good agricultural practices and forest protection. Over 85,000 farmers participated in the training program in 2019.

To reduce pressure on forests and help improve family health, Nestlé has distributed over 800 more efficient and less polluting cookstoves. The company has contributed to financial support through the creation of village savings and loan associations for over 9,400 people in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. They can take loans when needed, for example, to finance small business opportunities, with funds returned at the end of the year.

Alexander von Maillot, Senior Vice President, Head of Confectionery Strategic Business Unit, Nestlé S.A., said: "We have made good progress across all the primary objectives we set out under our Cocoa & Forests Initiative action plan. Sustainable cocoa requires thriving communities. Our actions take into account the need to balance forest protection and communities' livelihoods. As we forge ahead with our efforts to embed sustainability in the cocoa sector, we will continue to focus on providing farmers with viable alternatives to grow the same amount or even more cocoa on less land."

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At Nestlé, we care deeply for people and for the communities in which we operate, and we have an essential role to play during the COVID-19 crisis. Food and beverages help keep people healthy and enhance their quality of life. We care about our responsibility to provide good nutrition, especially for the most vulnerable in society – children, the elderly and those struggling with illness.

We would like to assure our customers and consumers that we will continue to produce and deliver products to meet global demand. Our people are fully committed and are working tirelessly to ensure that supply is maintained. We have put enhanced safety measures in place at all sites, with particular focus on frontline workers in Nestlé factories, quality labs and distribution centers. We are offering additional support to staff affected by the crisis, including generous sick leave arrangements, financial support and a guarantee of full pay for a minimum of 12 weeks for hourly and salaried staff affected by temporary stoppages.

Since the very beginning of this crisis, our people have led substantial local relief efforts in the communities around the globe where we operate. That includes working very closely with physicians to develop new tailored COVID-19 medical nutrition and supplement treatment protocols. It also includes donations to food banks and food delivery organizations, and prompt and pragmatic support to our business partners, for example in our supply chains. Efforts are continuing - and stepping up - around the world.

Building on these efforts, Nestlé is joining forces with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in response to its emergency appeal. Nestlé and the IFRC will work together to provide urgent help for emergency services and caregivers and strengthen healthcare systems. This includes donations of food, medical nutrition and bottled water; Nestlé logistics support for IFRC operations; a Nestlé donation of CHF 10 million for immediate deployment in countries where it is most needed; and donation matching 1:1 any donations to the Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies or Federation made by Nestlé employees.

Read the full press release

The Board of Directors of Nestlé S.A. has confirmed that the Nestlé Annual General Meeting will take place as planned on April 23, 2020. This is to ensure the continued smooth functioning of the Group and will allow for the timely payment of the dividend.

Out of concern for people’s health and in accordance with article 6a of COVID-19 Ordinance 2 of the Federal Council of March 16, 2020, shareholders will not be allowed to attend in person.

Shareholders remain fully able to exercise their voting rights through the Independent Representative Hartmann Dreyer, Attorneys-at-law. Voting instructions can be given to the Independent Representative in writing or via the electronic shareholder portal.

The Board regrets the unusual circumstances of the meeting in these extraordinary times.

Find more information on the AGM.

Nestlé today published its Annual Report for 2019. The Annual Report contains Nestlé’s Annual Review including Creating Shared Value highlights. It also contains the Corporate Governance & Compensation Reports and the Financial Statements, which were first published on February 13, 2020, and remain unchanged.

Nestlé saw strong progress in 2019, with significant improvements in key operating and financial metrics. Innovation continues to give Nestlé a competitive advantage. In order to keep pace with rapidly-changing consumer preferences, the company has changed its approach to innovation. It has made processes quicker, enhanced rapid prototyping and created accelerators.

Alongside a strong innovation engine, digitalization is a key ingredient to continued business success. Digitalization touches on all aspects of Nestlé’s business, from supply chain management to production to marketing and sales. For example, e-commerce sales grew by 18.5% to account for 8.5% of total sales in 2019, firmly establishing Nestlé at the leading edge of the food and beverage industry.

In 2019, Nestlé also continued to demonstrate that business can be a force for good, making a real contribution to society and helping to find solutions to global challenges. Nestlé accelerated its climate change efforts to transition to a low-carbon economy, with a pledge to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Moreover, Nestlé adopted the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations. The company will continue to work with others to mitigate and adapt to risks associated with climate change. Nestlé also continued to work towards a waste-free future, inaugurating its Institute of Packaging Sciences and deploying more sustainable packaging across its product portfolio.

Read the full press release

As the situation around the world with regards to COVID-19 continues to evolve, CEO Mark Schneider has sent a message to Nestlé employees.

Mark thanks all Nestlé employees around the world for their efforts to weather this crisis and get the company prepared to cope with the situation. He emphasizes that a company like Nestlé has a special responsibility at this time. Food and beverage products are essential to peoples’ lives.

Watch the video or read the full message.

As people are including more plant-based alternatives in their diet, Nestlé is launching plant-based versions of some of its most-loved global brands.

That now includes the world’s leading cocoa malt beverage, Milo.

Nestlé Australia is introducing a plant-based version of the famous powder that was first introduced in 1934.

The new Milo replaces milk powder with soy and oats. The core ingredients are the same as the original Milo – malt, barley and cocoa. The Milo development team worked hard to make sure it kept the same unmistakable choc-malt taste and iconic crunch that that Australians have grown up with.

The product is also lower in sugar compared to original Milo and has a combination of vitamins and minerals to support effective energy release. The new Milo gives people a plant-based option, alongside the original, reduced-sugar and extra protein versions.

Trevor Clayton, head of the Dairy business unit at Nestlé, said: "People are looking to vary their diets with more plant-based options, including to lower their environmental footprint and for health reasons. We already have some great plant-based products and are now adding one of our biggest global brands with Milo. We’re continuing to make good on our promise to offer consumers food that is right for them and right for the planet."

The new Milo follows on from other recent launches of plant-based beverages. Nestlé in Brazil introduced oat- and pea-based Ninho Forti + on shelves from December 2019, in a ready-to-drink carton with a paper straw. The United States saw the launch of Nesquik GoodNes in January, based on oat and pea protein with the great chocolate milk flavor of Nesquik.

Nestlé is using all its expertise in plant-based protein as well as in dairy to make sure the new drinks are high in nutritional value and taste delicious. Globally, the company has around 300 R&D scientists, engineers and product developers located in eight R&D centers that are dedicated to the research and development of plant-based products. This includes its center in Konolfingen, Switzerland, that specializes in dairy.

The need for plant-based dairy alternatives that taste great and offer strong nutritionals is rising, as more families are following a flexitarian diet that is lighter on meat and dairy products. Many consumers cite environmental reasons, as plant-based products are produced with lower emissions, land- and water usage.

Nestlé has stepped up its focus on providing more nutritious options for children, with Nestlé for Healthier Kids program. The two focus areas are accelerating the healthy transformation of Nestlé's product portfolio in line with WHO recommendations, and inspiring healthier eating with supportive programs and services.

Find related images on Flickr

Nestlé today announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind, single-material pouch for its baby food products designed for the future of recycling.

In the U.S., the new pouch will be available exclusively on TheGerberStore.com for Gerber's Organic Banana Mango Puree beginning in May 2020. It will be 100% recyclable through Gerber's national recycling program with TerraCycle.

In Finland, the pouch will be available for Piltti's Apple Pear Blueberry Raspberry widely sold in supermarkets.

Thierry Philardeau, Head of the Nutrition Strategic Business Unit, Nestlé said: "We are proud to have found a solution for the recyclability of baby food pouches. We began in the U.S. and Finland for two product variants, and we aim to gradually extend the use of single-material pouch to our baby food pouches range globally."

This is in line with Nestlé's commitment to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.

The newly designed-to-be-recyclable pouch is made from polypropylene (PP), a versatile form of plastic available commercially. This switch is expected to make more plastics infinitely recyclable and increase the value of the material for the recycling industry.

"This launch is an important milestone on how we execute our ambition to create a wider market for recycled plastics that are safe for food. We will continue to work with other stakeholders to ensure that the infrastructure needed to recycle matches material innovation," added Thierry Philardeau.

Read the full press release

Nestlé today announced it will plant at least three million trees in key sourcing locations in the Americas by 2021. It is the initial phase of a broader reforestation initiative, which forms part of the company’s plan to scale up actions in agriculture and deploy nature-based solutions to absorb more carbon. This move will help transform Nestlé's supply chain, making it more resilient. It will also contribute to achieving its net-zero greenhouse gas emissions pledge by 2050.

To this end, Nestlé has partnered with One Tree Planted (OTP) – a non-profit environmental charity with a focus on global reforestation to restore forests and protect habitat for biodiversity. Together with OTP, and its associated partner, the World Resources Institute, Nestlé will select specific planting locations where palm, soya, paper, coffee, or coconut are grown, and where precious ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, peatlands or mangroves can be restored. This selection process will aid restoration efforts in degraded landscapes while protecting existing high conservation value areas.

Beginning in March 2020, Nestlé will start planting trees in Brazil and Mexico.

"Achieving our net-zero ambition requires that we transform how we do business. Together with our suppliers we will restore land, improve the management of our supply chain and, as a result, better manage greenhouse gas emissions. This investment will lead to enhanced biodiversity and the regeneration of ecosystems we depend upon in the Americas," said Laurent Freixe, CEO of Zone Americas at Nestlé.

"Our goal is not to compensate the emissions but truly adopt nature-based solutions that we are deploying as part of our pledge to become carbon neutral by 2050. Planting trees not only captures carbon but also helps rebuild forests and communities, protect threatened and endangered biodiversity, promote soil nutrients, and conserve water – all of which help increase the resilience of farmers," said Magdi Batato, Executive Vice President, Head of Operations at Nestlé. "Reforestation also complements our commitment to halt deforestation in our supply chains. Tackling climate change requires multiple solutions."

The reforestation initiative builds on Nestlé’s existing actions, such as the agroforestry program initiated in 2014 under the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality^TM Program, whose goal is to plant five million trees in the Nespresso's coffee supply chain by end 2020. Last year, the program was deployed across Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kenya, Nicaragua, and Uganda.

Nestlé will expand the reforestation activities to Africa, Asia, and Oceania, with a focus on sourcing locations vulnerable to the adverse effect of climate change.

Nestlé and recycling company iQ Renew today announced a trial which aims to see soft plastics collected from over 100,000 homes in Australia through kerbside recycling and diverted from landfill.

With increasing consumer demand for improved recycling, the trial aims to find a broadly applicable way to collect, sort and process soft plastics.

iQ Renew CEO Danial Gallagher said soft plastics not only make up 20% of the volume of Australian household landfill bins but are also frequently found incorrectly placed in recycling bins: "We’ve designed the trial so that at the front end, it will support householders to pre-sort their soft plastic and get it into a recycling stream, while behind the scenes, we’ll test using the sorted soft plastic as a resource in a range of different manufacturing processes."

Nestlé Australia CEO Sandra Martinez said the company wanted to find sustainable paths to recycle packaging: "While we are working to make all our packaging recyclable, we know that soft plastics is an area that needs greater focus and collaboration. We need to find ways to drive more recycling here. Given the low amount of soft plastic collected from consumers today, we hope this trial can unlock the significant potential for soft plastic packaging to become a resource."

The project will commence with a pilot of 2,000 households, then plans to expand to over 100,000 households later in the year, processing around 750 tonnes of soft plastic that would otherwise be sent to landfill. Locations for the trial are currently under consideration.

Read the full press release on Nestlé Australia website

Nestlé India is ranked joint first in the second India Access to Nutrition Spotlight Index 2020. The index is an independent national assessment to measure the contribution of India’s largest food and beverage manufacturers toward meeting the health and nutrition needs of Indian consumers.

Some of Nestlé India's strengths include its overall nutrition governance and management systems that are comprehensive with a clear accountability structure, its pledge to reduce fat, salt and sugar in its products, its commitment to address the affordability of its nutritious products and its responsible marketing policies.

Commenting on India Access to Nutrition Spotlight Index, Mr. Suresh Narayanan, Chairman & Managing Director, Nestlé India said: "We are pleased with the results of the ATNI, which recognizes our sustained commitment to nutrition, health and wellness. Nestlé India believes that nutrition is a fundamental need and the food industry has a vital role to play in enabling healthier lives. Driven by our purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future, we are constantly striving to increase the nutrient profile of our products, innovate with new and nutritious offerings, and are a proud signatory of the 'Eat Right Pledge' and strongly support India’s 'Eat Right Movement'. This recognition motivates us to do more and provide our valued consumers with healthier products and ensure continued commitment to transparent and consumer friendly policies."

The India Access to Nutrition Spotlight Index is published by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) and hosted by the Access to Nutrition Foundation, an international not-for-profit organisation. India was selected as a Spotlight Country as it has a rapidly-developing food and beverage sector. Nestlé also ranked first in the most recent flagship Global Access to Nutrition Index published in 2018.

Nestlé has launched Unleashed , a new accelerator program in pet care. The Nestlé Purina program is part of the global initiative to accelerate innovation, addressing fast-changing consumer needs and major challenges linked to the future of food and nutrition. The program aims to identify and support dynamic and creative start-ups that integrate science and technologies into innovative products and services for pets.

Unleashed leverages Nestlé Purina's Research and Development expertise and its commercial reach to foster the growth of selected start-ups. Starting in July 2020, the program gives start-ups access to pet health and nutrition expertise, proof of concept funding, as well as established commercial networks.

Dan Smith, Vice President, Research and Development, Nestlé Purina said: "Unleashed contributes to building an ecosystem in pet care where experts and innovators come together and help promote pet health and wellbeing, creating better lives for pets and the people who love them."

"In addition to support, advice and funding to prove their concept, start-ups will have access to a wide range of competences at Nestlé Purina, including training, learning and networking opportunities. We want to facilitate connections with our businesses to help the start-ups find synergies and inspiration."

Unleashed is calling for start-ups with a creative mindset and promising technologies including in the areas of personalized nutrition, proactive health & wellness and sustainable solutions including packaging.

Start-ups will be evaluated for the relevance of their business idea, scalability and business model sustainability. They will be supported by a Nestlé Purina multi-disciplinary team to help them validate their concepts within 6 months. Each selected start-up will receive funding up to CHF 50,000. Applications for the first call will close on the 31st of March 2020. The program is starting in Europe, Middle East and North Africa.

Unleashed is a spin-off from the global acceleration program that was kicked off last year with the creation of the Nestlé R&D Accelerator in Lausanne, Switzerland, that was established with the objective of rapidly translating innovative ideas and concepts into new products and services across business categories. The Nestlé R&D Accelerator provides scientists, students and start-ups access to Nestlé R&D expertise and infrastructure.

Nestlé Purina has developed the first and only cat food that reduces the allergens in cat hair and dander. Purina Pro Plan LiveClear is a 100% complete, nutritious and balanced dry cat food that has been shown to significantly reduce the allergens in cat hair and dander in as little as three weeks when fed daily.

The breakthrough product stems from more than a decade of research dedicated to finding a safe, effective way to improve quality of life for cats and their owners.

As many as one in five adults worldwide are sensitized to cat allergens, therefore limiting interactions between owners and their cats. Current methods for managing cat allergens often include limiting time with the cat, isolating the cat in the home or removing the cat from the home altogether.

"Many people think that cat hair is the root of their problem," explained Ebenezer Satyaraj, PhD, immunologist for Nestlé Purina Research and lead investigator for the research," but it’s actually what’s on it – the major cat allergen called Fel d 1, a protein that cats produce naturally in their saliva."

Fel d1 is an allergen produced by all cats – regardless of breed, age, hair length, hair color, sex, or body weight. Produced primarily in cats’ salivary and sebaceous glands, Fel d1 is transferred to a cat’s hair and skin during grooming, then dispersed in the environment via hair and dried skin flakes.

The key ingredient in Pro Plan LiveClear is a specific protein sourced from eggs. When cats eat LiveClear, the protein binds to the Fel d 1 and safely neutralizes it in the cat’s mouth. By reducing active Fel d 1 in the cat’s saliva, it reduces the allergen that is transferred to the cat’s hair and dander when they groom, ultimately reducing the allergen in the environment without impacting the physiology of the cat.

Pro Plan LiveClear will be available online and at pet specialty retail outlets in the United States in April, with other markets to follow later in 2020.

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Nestlé today announced the global launch of Starbucks® premium instant (soluble) coffee. The new range consists of Medium Roast and Dark Roast coffees, as well as a variety of coffee beverages and a tea latte. Available in multi-serve tins and single-serve formats, the products combine the unrivaled expertise and heritage of Nestlé in the instant coffee segment with the unique signature premium taste of Starbucks.

From February 2020 onwards, Nestlé will introduce the new range of Starbucks premium instant coffee globally in markets including the UK, Ireland, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Greater China (Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan), Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and South Africa.

The new range of Starbucks premium instant coffee is the latest innovation co-developed by Nestlé and Starbucks under the global coffee alliance, which in the last year has brought a broad range of new offerings to more than 40 markets.

"The continued strong collaboration between Starbucks and Nestlé enabled us to move at speed and to expand the Starbucks brand into the instant coffee segment. We are delighted to keep leveraging our coffee expertise to create new experiences for consumers," said David Rennie, Deputy Executive Vice President, Head of Nestlé Coffee Brands. "The instant coffee segment is growing fast globally. With the launch of Starbucks premium instant coffee, we have a new range that resonates with Starbucks consumers and will strengthen our leading position.”

"We’re very excited to introduce our high-quality Starbucks coffees in a premium soluble format for customers to enjoy," said John Culver, group president, Starbucks International, Channel Development and Global Coffee and Tea. “The speed in which this innovation came to life is an example of the power of our alliance as we further extend the global reach of Starbucks for our customers and create long-term value for both companies.”

The Medium Roast is a smooth and balanced Latin American coffee with creamy notes of milk chocolate and nuts. The Dark Roast is a fuller-bodied, bold Latin American coffee with a sweet roast flavor and notes of delicious dark chocolate.

The new coffee beverages and tea latte are directly inspired by signature Starbucks® beverages, available in Cappuccino, Caffè Latte, Caffè Mocha, Caramel Latte, and Vanilla Latte, as well as tea-based Matcha latte.

All products are crafted with the same high-quality, ethically sourced C.A.F.E. Practices arabica beans that are served in Starbucks coffeehouses around the world. This Starbucks premium instant coffee range will be sold in supermarkets and major online platforms.

Nestlé Purina today announced the expansion of its Clinton, Iowa, factory. The USD 140 million (CHF 138 million) investment will allow Purina to meet growing demand from pet owners for nutritious, science-based dog and cat foods using high-quality and trusted ingredients.

Purina, which employs 360 people in Clinton, established local operations in 1969. The expansion will add new processing and packaging lines for the production of 'dry', or kibble-based, pet foods and lead to total job growth of more than 60 positions.

The Clinton factory plays a unique role in Purina's network of 21 factories across the United States. The location is a hub for innovation and design of new products, in addition to producing flagship brands including Purina ONE and Purina Pro Plan, both of which are experiencing double digit growth.

For more, read the full press release.

Carrefour and Nestlé announced today that they are joining forces to help parents get their children to adopt a healthier and more sustainable diet, promoting daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. To that end, the two companies have launched the 'Adopt a Fruit, Adopt a Vegetable' initiative. This initiative falls under the banner of the broader Nestlé for Healthier Kids and Carrefour Act for Food initiatives, each launched worldwide in 2018.

Launching in Carrefour's stores, the initiative offers parents and their children free fruits and vegetables, alongside recipes providing inspiration and cooking guidance. The initiative also promotes healthier products that contain whole grain, less sugar and salt, as well as organic and plant-based products. The initiative will be launched across all Carrefour hypermarkets in France effective today, before being implemented in Argentina and Italy, as well as in other key markets for the two companies.

Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider said: "Our commitment to the healthy development of children goes back to the founding of Nestlé. In May 2018, we took our commitment to the next level with the global launch of Nestlé for Healthier Kids. We believe we have an important role to play in helping parents promote healthier habits. In 2019 alone, we launched more than 1 300 food and beverage products designed to meet children’s specific nutritional needs. The partnership with Carrefour will allow us to build greater awareness on the importance of eating varied and healthy meals – ones that include, among other things, more fruits and vegetables. It also offers helpful tools to support parents."

Read the full press release in English and in French.

Nestlé and Project STOP today received the support of the regional government of Pasuruan in East Java, Indonesia, to establish a Material Recovery Facility, a key component to create a comprehensive waste management system for communities in the area.

Currently, only 9% of Pasuruan residents have access to waste management services, of which just 1% of waste is responsibly managed. Residents have no other option and must dump their waste in the open environment.

The Material Recovery Facility will be used to manage waste collection, segregation and recycling processes at the Lekok and Nguling municipalities in Pasuruan for the first time.

Nestlé is the first food and beverage company to join Project STOP, an initiative co-founded by Borealis and SYSTEMIQ that designs, implements, and scales circular economy solutions to prevent plastic pollution in Southeast Asia.

Borealis and SYSTEMIQ, along with Nestlé and other partners, and with the support of the regional government of Pasuruan, launched the city partnership last year. Focusing on Lekok and Nguling municipalities, the initiative aims to create a sustainable, low-cost waste management system that will increase collection rates and prevent leakage to the ocean.

“We are very pleased and motivated to be partnering with Nestlé and Project STOP to develop a holistic waste management system. This is another important development to help Indonesia achieve its commitment to reduce waste in the oceans by 70% in 2025,” said H. M. Irsyad Yusuf. MM, Regent of Pasuruan. “I hope this project will be able to help us create an economically self-sufficient waste management system that can be replicated across the region. Not only will the program provide employment, it will also most importantly improve our community’s health and address the environmental issue caused by improper management of plastic packaging waste.”

“The establishment of the Material Recovery Facility is an important milestone to ensure the implementation of a comprehensive, community-based waste management system,” said Véronique Cremades-Mathis, Nestlé’s Global Head of Sustainable Packaging. “We want to build awareness, inspire action and champion innovation in addressing the global issue of plastic waste. This project is an example of how we endeavor to make a real difference that is benefiting people in the communities where we operate in.”

“Our involvement in Project STOP supports our long-term ambition to stop plastic leakage into the environment across our global operations, one of them is located in the Region of Pasuruan,” said Dharnesh Gordhon, President Director of PT Nestlé Indonesia.

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