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Nespresso today introduces AMAHA awe UGANDA, 'Hope of Uganda', a new and seasonal coffee from the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda. This was made possible through the company’s unique Reviving Origins program, an integral part of the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program.

Launched in 2019, the Reviving Origins program aims to restore coffee production in regions where it is under threat from adversities such as conflict, economic hardship and environmental disasters. The program provides support to rebuild sustainable livelihoods for farmers and their communities while preserving the future of some of the world's rarest, most exquisite coffees. Nespresso is investing a total of CHF 10 million in the program over a period of five years (2019-2023).

Guillaume Le Cunff, CEO of Nespresso said: "Coffee is the lifeblood of entire communities across the globe. In many regions, coffee farming is threatened for reasons such as climate change, conflict and a shifting global economy. Through the Reviving Origins program, Nespresso provides support to struggling coffee farming areas and helps breathe new life into local economies and, most importantly, communities in these regions."

In Uganda, climate change, poor farming practices and economic hardship has meant that the production of high-quality coffee has been a challenge over recent years. As part of the Reviving Origins program and in partnership with Agri Evolve, a young agribusiness dedicated to improving farmer productivity, Nespresso is working with more than 2,000 farmers, providing training and expertise to improve coffee quality and productivity in addition to establishing sustainable farming practices.

The AMAHA awe UGANDA coffee will be available from May 2020 in 31 countries across the world, alongside Reviving Origins coffees TAMUKA mu ZIMBABWE and ESPERANZA de COLOMBIA - both back for 2020 following their initial launch last year.

Read the full press release

The image is striking: three masked people holding a portable ventilator. The Swiss Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire Anne Lugon-Moulin and the Nestlé Côte d'Ivoire CEO Thomas Caso are presenting a Nestlé donation to the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Dr. Eugène Aka Aouélé.

Ambassador Lugon-Moulin commended the Ivorian Government on its response to the pandemic, adding: "I am impressed by the ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the preventive measures to adopt in order to minimize the spread of the coronavirus."

The story of these ventilators reflects something we have all been feeling since the outbreak of this pandemic; it has led us to realize the need for individual and collective responsibility. Nestlé is no exception.

How did it all start?

At the end of a brainstorming session, Dr. Patricia Amondji, Dr. Marie-Claude Kouassi and Dr. Eric Bouaffon, all doctors at Nestlé Côte d'Ivoire, suggested a donation to the Infectious and Tropical Disease Service of the Treichville University Hospital. This is the unit critical COVID-19 patients are referred to in Côte d'Ivoire. The Nestlé leadership team loved the idea, as did the public health authorities, who had called upon national solidarity to fight the pandemic.

The donation included two ventilators, complementing the 18 ordered by the government in addition to the four already available in this West African country of 25 million inhabitants. There were also 10 automatic hospital beds, gowns and surgical masks offered for distribution by the Treichville COVID-19 unit to the 15 care units, 14 screening facilities and three confinement centers newly opened in the country to manage the pandemic in a decentralized manner.

"We are happy we heeded the call because, as doctors, we are convinced that the battle against COVID-19 can only be won if we minimize transmissions and provide doctors with medical and personal protective equipment to enable them treat severe cases, especially people with underlying conditions who need to be assisted by ventilators to stay alive", Dr. Amondji said.

The donation is timely, as the need for ventilators exceeds available equipment. It took place in Côte d'Ivoire but it could have been elsewhere in the world. Expressions of solidarity and support to those impacted by COVID-19 are becoming more commonplace; and Nestlé and its employees have stood up and helped around the world. There is a common thread to the most impactful initiatives: the best ideas come from the employees directly. This is what makes each donation so unique and a true source of pride for all.

Nestlé today announced a series of investments that will further strengthen its footprint in China and continue to enhance its product portfolio with innovative and premium products.

The investments, in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA), total more than 100 million Swiss Francs (RMB 730 million).

With pet ownership on the rise in China, this includes a significant capacity expansion of Nestlé’s existing pet food plant in Tianjin. New production lines will offer pet owners quality products in categories including Veterinary Diet and Wet Cat Food.

The investment will also see Nestlé’s first production facility in Asia for plant-based products. In recent years, the food sector has undergone a quiet revolution as people are choosing more and more healthy, nutritious, and environmentally friendly foods.

In addition, there will be new investment for the confectionery business with an upgrade of the line of Nestlé Chengzhen Wafer , producing a popular flagship wafer product launched in 2019. Nestlé will also further develop its Tianjin Nestlé Quality Assurance Center.

For more information, read the full press release.

We are all hoping to restart social and economic life safely, including visiting family and friends and getting back to work. A vaccine against COVID-19 is crucial to end the pandemic and to save lives and livelihoods. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is playing an important role in funding and speeding up the development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates on a global basis.

That is why Nestlé has today announced we will support CEPI's efforts with a donation of CHF 1 million (USD 1.03 million). CEPI is working quickly and collaboratively with the ambition to develop a safe, effective and globally accessible COVID-19 vaccine within a 12-18-month timeframe. They have already raised over USD 1 billion from governments, private donors and individuals around the world but need further funding to reach their goal of USD 2 billon to allow their COVID-19 programs to continue at pace.

Mark Schneider, CEO of Nestlé, said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has created a lot of pain and hardship in communities around the world. A safe and effective vaccine will be needed to return to normality. That is why it was important to us to get on board when CEPI issued their call. We hope others will join us and support this important mission."

CEPI is an innovative global partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil society organizations launched in Davos in 2017 to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics.

Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said: "It will take a monumental effort to tackle this virus, but through global cooperation and financial contributions towards the COVID-19 response, businesses can play their part in helping to change the course of this devastating pandemic.

We are grateful for Nestlé's leadership in supporting our efforts to rapidly develop a safe, effective and globally accessible vaccine against COVID-19. At this pivotal moment in time, we call on other businesses to follow Nestlé's initiative and provide the vital support necessary to get our lives, society and economies back on track."

Nestlé would like to thank Economiesuisse and the Swiss American Chamber of Commerce, who are supporting CEPI's donation drive in Switzerland.

Read more on Nestlé's response to COVID-19.

Find this release in Français (pdf, 100 Kb) and Deutsch (pdf, 100 Kb)

Nestlé USA is introducing Life Cuisine, an exciting new brand delivering delicious and satisfying meal solutions from gluten-free to high-protein. Nestlé is also introducing new and improved meals from Lean Cuisine, with more than half of the brand’s portfolio to be relaunched.

A new food dynamic has inspired people to learn more about different foods, seek more specific product attributes and balance their lifestyles. Life Cuisine offers 15 flavorful recipes – including layered bowls, cauliflower-crust pizzas and sous vide egg bites. Consumers can choose from a variety of thoughtfully created options offering a full cup of vegetables, two or more essential nutrients, high protein, high fiber and more.

To deliver more of the delicious ingredients and irresistible flavors people want, Nestlé is also introducing new and improved meals from Lean Cuisine. More than half of the brand’s portfolio will be relaunched including new Lean Cuisine Bowls.

As it rolls out new Lean Cuisine recipes, Nestlé is also debuting improvements to its current portfolio. More than 50 offerings will feature renovated, calorie-conscious recipes with more of what consumers want – and will be released in updated, modern packaging that highlight enhancements.

Read more about the new launches on the Nestlé USA website.

Media contact Nestlé USA: Sarah Factor
Phone: +1 440 264 5663
Email: [email protected]

Nestlé is piloting reusable and refillable dispensers for petcare and soluble coffee as part of its efforts to reduce single-use packaging. The in-store dispensers offer consumers a shopping experience that is free of single-use packaging, along with flexibility and variety of product choice.

Consumers can bring reusable containers to purchase different types of Purina cat food and Nescafé soluble coffee. They can also digitally access product information that is typically found on packaging, such as ingredients, nutritional values and shelf life.

Working in collaboration with the start-up MIWA, Nestlé recently piloted the reusable and refillable dispensers in three Nestlé shops located in Rorschach, Orbe and La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland. During a four-month trial period, the dispensers were well received by consumers and Nestlé was able to gain valuable insights including the user-friendliness. To further assess the dispensers’ effectiveness in preventing packaging waste along the supply chain, the dispensers are now being rolled out across more locations in the next few months.

Hélène Lanctuit, R&D Packaging Lead at Nestlé, says: "Packaging plays a key role in maintaining food safety during a product’s shelf life. This means that whenever new packaging systems are explored we need to ensure that our products can be delivered to consumers in a safe and hygienic manner. These dispensers are novel because they incorporate smart technology which allows us to ensure product safety, and also guarantee the freshness and traceability of our products."

The development of innovative, alternative delivery systems such as bulk, reuse and refill options are a key focus area for Nestlé across several product categories. The company has already announced a pilot test for Refill Plus, a water dispenser using state-of-the-art technology, which allows consumers to personalize their water with sixty-four flavor combinations. In partnership with Terracycle, Nestlé is rolling out Loop, a subscription home delivery service in the US and will also introduce it soon in France. Additionally, mini dispensers for Nescafé and Milo are available for the out-of-home segment in many countries around the world.

These innovative systems are part of a broader set of actions to reduce single-use packaging. Building on its commitment to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025, Nestlé announced plans to reduce the use of virgin plastics by one third during the same time period.

Bernard Meunier, CEO of Nestlé Purina Petcare EMENA, says: "At Purina, our teams are focused on designing our products and packaging for a more sustainable future. This pilot marks an important step forward in our efforts towards waste reduction and we are proud to play a leading role in testing these innovative dispensers. Offering pet owners the option of using safe reusable and refillable dispensers in-store can help us improve our environmental impact while still providing great quality nutrition for pets."

Philipp Navratil, Global Head of Beverage Strategic Business Unit at Nestlé, Senior Vice-President, says: "As part of Nescafé’s packaging transformation journey, we have been working hard to rethink how we design our packaging for better environmental impact. We are excited to work on a refilling option made possible by our in-store dispensing system for our consumers who want to enjoy their Nescafé experience at home."

Read more:

• Nestlé Switzerland press release in French | German
• Nestlé inaugurates packaging research institute, first-of-its-kind in the food industry
• Nestlé accelerates action to tackle plastic waste

Nestlé today joined (pdf, 3Mb) over 150 major multinationals in urging governments around the world to align their COVID-19 economic aid and recovery efforts with the latest climate science.

By signing this statement, supportive companies reaffirm their own science-based commitments to achieving net-zero carbon emissions. They also call on governments to prioritize a faster and fairer transition from a grey to a green economy.

The statement comes as governments around the world work on packages to help recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and as they prepare to submit enhanced national climate plans under the Paris agreement.

The initiative intends to unite businesses and governments in recovering better and delivering the greatest positive impact for people, prosperity, and the planet.

Signatories will continue to:

• demonstrate that the best decisions and actions are grounded in science;
• invest in recovery and resilience for systemic socio-economic transformations;
• work with governments and scale up the movement.

Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO said: "Let’s work together to create a more sustainable and resilient world. We will play our part and are committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050."

Nestlé is accelerating its actions to tackle climate change and has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050. Plans to achieve this goal include restoring farmland and forests, increasing the use of renewable energy, and reformulating products that have a better environmental footprint and contribute to a balanced diet. Nestlé will publish a roadmap, including interim targets consistent with the 1.5°C path.

The business voices are convened by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and its Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign partners, the UN Global Compact and the We Mean Business coalition.

Read the full press release.

Nestlé is pleased to welcome Gim Huay Neo, Managing Director of Sustainability at Temasek, to its Creating Shared Value (CSV) Council.

Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO, said: "Creating Shared Value is fundamental to how we do business at Nestlé. We believe that our company can only be successful in the long term by creating value both for our shareholders and for society. We greatly value the CSV Council’s guidance on our actions to ensure our business acts as a force for good. With her experience in sustainability strategy, solutions and impact investing, Gim Huay will be a great asset to the work of the Council."

The Creating Shared Value Council is an external advisory council formed in 2009. The Council helps to ensure the sound development long term sustainability and positive social and economic impact of the CSV business strategy. Chaired by Janet Voûte, the Nestlé Creating Shared Value Council is comprised of nine external members, whose expertise spans corporate social responsibility, strategy, sustainability, nutrition, water and rural development. Council members also form the judging panel for the Nestlé CSV Prize.

Find more information on the CSV Council.

Nespresso today announced the launch of the first coffee capsules made using 80% recycled aluminium. This is part of the company’s continued journey towards circularity, going further to minimize waste and maximize reuse of product materials.

"We are constantly challenging ourselves to improve the sustainability and circularity of our operations, including the way we source, use, and recycle materials. Reaching 80% recycled aluminium in our capsules is a significant milestone, and something we have worked hard to achieve together with our suppliers," said Jérôme Pérez, Nespresso Head of Sustainability.

The first ever coffee capsules made from 80% recycled aluminium are the Original Line Master Origin Colombia coffee. By the end of 2021, Nespresso aims to have the full Original Line and Vertuo ranges of coffee capsules made using recycled aluminium.

Due to the composition of the aluminium alloy required to produce Nespresso capsules, 80% is the current maximum amount of recycled content that can be used today. However, Nespresso continues to look at solutions that will increase that percentage.

The launch of these capsules follows the introduction of new fully recyclable boxes for Nespresso machines, made from 95% recycled material, earlier this year in March. By the end of 2021, Nespresso targets to have all machines sold in this new packaging.

Read the full press release

Nestlé and a wide range of stakeholders are calling for Nutri-Score to become the mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labeling system across the European Union (EU).

The coalition includes consumer organizations, academics, Members of European Parliament and food industry players. The group has written to Stella Kyriakides, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, requesting that Nutri-Score becomes mandatory in the EU. Nutri-Score is currently only applied on a voluntary basis.

Nutri-Score is a color-coded system that classifies food and drinks according to their nutritional profile. It gives a score ranging from A (healthier choices) to E (less healthy choices). With the increased importance of cooking and eating at home, this simple format helps people make intuitive food choices.

Mark Schneider, Nestlé CEO, commented: “The COVID-19 crisis continues to impact all our lives in powerful and sometimes tragic ways. Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected and we extend our deepest sympathies to those who have lost loved ones.

Nestlé has a special responsibility at this time. Our food and beverage products help keep people healthy, provide comfort and support recovery.

Our people, in particular our frontline workers, have shown extraordinary commitment in keeping our business running and meeting consumer needs. We will continue to work hard to provide food and beverages to people across the world, every day.

Our company remained resilient in the first quarter, reflecting our diversified product portfolio and our strong local presence in 187 countries. However, this crisis is far from over and we will face many uncertainties in the coming quarters. We will continue to adapt quickly to changing consumer needs and to challenges in our global supply chains. As a reliable employer and business partner we are meeting our commitments. As a good citizen and trusted neighbor, we continue to offer our help, in particular to the most vulnerable in society. Over the last 154 years, Nestlé has successfully overcome many challenges. We are confident that - together with all those who are fighting against the pandemic and its consequences - we will also overcome this one.”

Read the full press release.

Follow the Investor call webcast hosted by Mark Schneider, Nestlé Chief Executive Officer, and François-Xavier Roger, Nestlé Chief Financial Officer live at 14:00 CEST.

The 153rd Nestlé S.A. Annual General Meeting took place in Lausanne today.

Out of concern for people’s health and in accordance with applicable ordinances of the Swiss authorities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, shareholders could not attend in person. The meeting took place at the Beaulieu Convention Center in Lausanne and all legal proceedings were carried out as required. Shareholders were able to exercise their voting rights through the Independent Representative Hartmann Dreyer, Attorneys-at-law, who represented 57.8 percent of the capital and 80.1 percent of the shares entitled to vote.

The addresses of the Chairman and the CEO are available to view online. The detailed voting results (pdf) from the AGM have also been published. All proposals of the Board of Directors were approved with strong majorities.

Nestlé Chairman Paul Bulcke said: "Our Annual General Meeting at Lausanne-Beaulieu took place today as planned, although unfortunately without the presence of shareholders. I am truly sorry that we were unable to meet in person this year because of the pandemic that is affecting us all. I want to thank our shareholders for their understanding and for their continued trust and support of our company. I very much look forward to seeing them in person again next year under normal circumstances."

The annual review and the accounts were approved, as were the proposed dividend of CHF 2.70 per share and the planned capital reduction.

The shareholders elected Ms Hanne Jimenez de Mora, Co-founder and Chairperson of management consulting company a-connect (group) ag and formerly a partner with McKinsey & Company, as a new member of the Board. A video presenting Hanne Jimenez de Mora's candidacy to join the Board is available online.

Read the full press release

Nestlé has today joined the Child Learning and Education Facility (CLEF) coalition to boost quality education in rural communities in Côte d'Ivoire. The CLEF coalition is a pooled financing facility, and the first public-private partnership focused on scaling investments for quality education in Côte d'Ivoire. Members to date include the Ivorian government, UBS Optimus Foundation, ten other cocoa and chocolate companies and the Jacobs Foundation, who has been promoting the initiative.

Access to quality education is an essential tool to promote children’s rights and fighting child labor. The Jacobs Foundation is, therefore, working with public and private organizations to develop a sustainable ecosystem that will ensure education for all children. Over the past years, Nestlé has worked with the Jacobs Foundation to set up bridging classes and vocational training for young people through the Transforming Education in Cocoa Communities (TRECC) program. This partnership with the Nestlé Cocoa Plan helps children to (re-)integrate into the public-school system and support them to keep up with their peers.

Alexander von Maillot, Global Head confectionery and ice cream Strategic Business Unit at Nestlé, said: "We are pleased to contribute to the CLEF initiative to improve quality of education in Côte d'Ivoire. It builds on the work we have been doing with Jacobs Foundation under their TRECC program. Since 2012, Nestlé has contributed to improving access to education in the rural areas in Côte d'Ivoire. As part of the Nestlé Cocoa Plan, we have built or refurbished 49 schools in the cocoa growing communities. CLEF complements our wider actions to tackle child labor through the roll-out of the 'Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation System’. It helps address some of the root causes of child labor."

By 2030, CLEF aims to provide quality education for 5 million children and affect the behavior of 10 million parents. To achieve this goal, CLEF will bring effective learning to up to 10,000 primary schools in cocoa growing areas and beyond, and construct 2,500 classrooms and other education infrastructures such as bridge classes, community schools, school canteens, and pre-school classrooms.

Read the full press release and download the CLEF factsheet (pdf, 500 Kb)

Nestlé has joined five leading companies operating in the food, agriculture and forest sectors to support the implementation of climate-related financial disclosures. These companies collaborated with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development to publish a report that shares best practices. It aims at encouraging transparency and consistency in climate-related financial reporting.

The Task Force on Climate related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) develops recommendations to help companies disclose climate-related financial risks and opportunities. Companies are increasingly adopting the TCFD recommendations, but the pace of implementation remains slow. Challenges include a lack of information on the potential financial impact of climate change and the need for more clarity on the resilience of company strategies under different climate scenarios.

The new report showcases examples of effective disclosure practices from companies covering governance, strategy, risk management, metrics and targets. It also includes perspectives from investors on how they can use information published by companies to allocate financial capital. By sharing their individual experiences and learnings, participating companies hope to increase levels of adoption of the TCFD recommendations by the private sector.

Francois Xavier Roger, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer at Nestlé said: "Climate change is one of the biggest threats we face as a society and one of the greatest risks to the future of our business. Without prompt collective action, the world will run out of time to avoid the worst effects of global warming. That is why Nestlé pledged in 2019 to reach a net-zero future by 2050. We have started to implement the TCFD's recommendations and were pleased to collaborate on the WBCSD's Food, Agriculture & Forest Products TCFD Preparer Forum with other companies. We welcome this report to promote transparency, comparability and consistency between companies regarding their climate disclosures."

To understand the potential risks and opportunities associated with a changing climate, in 2019 Nestlé conducted a high-level assessment of physical and transition exposure focused on coffee, cereals and dairy. Risks identified include the negative impact of climate change on raw material quality and availability, along with increased costs.

As part of its journey towards a net-zero future by 2050, Nestlé is supporting farmers and promoting innovation in agriculture. Raw material sourcing makes up the vast majority of the company's carbon footprint. Initiatives will focus on storing more carbon in the ground through soil management and land restoration, and halting deforestation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Read the full press release

Nestlé has expanded the use of the IBM Food Trust blockchain technology platform to its Zoégas coffee brand.

The company has launched select editions of Zoégas whole beans and roast & ground coffee in Sweden. This 'Summer 2020' range is a 100% Rainforest Alliance certified blend of arabica coffee beans from three origins - Brazil, Rwanda and Colombia. Through blockchain-recorded data, coffee lovers will now be able to trace their coffee back to the different origins.

For the first time, Nestlé partnered with a trusted third party - The Rainforest Alliance - to independently provide reliable data beyond what is usually disclosed by the company. The Rainforest Alliance provides their own certification information, guarantying the traceability of the coffee. This information is directly accessible to everyone with the IBM Food Trust blockchain platform.

By scanning the QR code on the packaging, consumers can follow the coffee journey from the growing locations to the Zoégas factory in Helsingborg where the beans are roasted, grounded and packed. The data includes information about farmers, time of harvest, transaction certificate for the specific shipments, as well as roasting period.

Nestlé started using blockchain in 2017 when it joined the IBM Food Trust as a founding member. Over the past three years, Nestlé has scaled up and diversified the use of blockchain platforms to bring its transparency and sustainability efforts to life for consumers. It started giving consumers access to blockchain with IBM on products such as Mousline purée and Guigoz infant formula in France. Together with OpenSC, Nestlé is also piloting open blockchain to monitor and openly communicate data related to the sustainability of milk and palm oil.

Nestlé continues to leverage technologies to create better visibility of the whole value chain of its products and lead in making supply chain more transparent.

The 2019 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) today recognized Nestlé’s efforts to enhance animal welfare (pdf, 2Mb) throughout its supply chain.

For the first time, Nestlé ranked as a 'Tier 2' performer in the annual benchmark of the food industry's efforts to improve standards around the world, placing the company in a group of leading performers in the industry. ‘Tier 2’ status means that animal welfare is integral to Nestlé’s business strategy.

Nestlé received particular recognition for improvements to its reporting and transparency on animal welfare practices in its supply chain.

Commenting on the ranking, Magdi Batato, Global Head of Operations at Nestlé said: "We care about animal welfare and are committed to improving the way farm animals are treated. We are pleased to move up to 'Tier 2' in the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare index this year. This recognizes our efforts to improve transparency and reporting on our progress. We will continue to work with others in the food industry to make further improvements."

Nestlé uses animal proteins as an ingredient in a number of products. It has taken a series of actions and made commitments on animal welfare, including:

• Committing to sourcing cage free eggs only worldwide by year-end 2025.
• Sourcing cage free eggs only by year-end 2020 in the U.S. and Europe.
• Improving the welfare of broiler chickens in Nestlé's U.S. supply chain by year-end 2024.
• Delivering similar improvements in Nestlé’s European supply chain by year-end 2026.
• Signing a global collaboration agreement with Compassion in World Farming.

These measures build on Nestlé's global Commitment on Farm Animal Welfare (pdf, 2Mb). This focuses on ensuring respect for the internationally recognized 'five freedoms' for farm animals and forms the basis of Nestlé’s responsible sourcing requirements on meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products.

Today's BBFAW assessment also recognized Nestlé's role in co-founding the Global Coalition on Animal Welfare, the world's first industry led collaboration aimed at advancing animal welfare globally.

For more information regarding animal welfare at Nestlé please visit our webpage dedicated to animal welfare and read our Nestlé Farm Animal Welfare Q&A (pdf, 500Kb).