This time the LifeHacking website introduces our readers to the history of the creation of the Nestle company!

1. Swiss pharmacist Henry

Swiss pharmacist Henry Nestle I was puzzled by the issue of baby food. Henry decided to create a product that was exactly like mother's milk. Soon a pharmacist will create such a product called Farine Lactee Henry Nestle(Henry Nestlé milk flour). Powdered milk consisted of the most natural ingredients of the time: milk, sugar and wheat flour. Artificial milk turned out no worse than natural mother's milk. Then Henry decides to create his own milk production company.

Already in 1867 a pharmacist we know creates a company called Nestle(very selfish). The main goal of the company was to create a quality product for kids. The first major consumer products Nestle became a baby who could not tolerate mother's and regular milk. He was starting to allergic reaction. The doctor could not help the baby. Then Henry offered to give him his own milk, and it did not cause an allergy. Thus, dry flour from Nestle saved the baby’s life. Subsequently, this case aroused general interest, and Nestle products quickly gained popularity throughout Europe. Along with its popularity, Henry’s wallet gained thickness, because the product brought good income for the Nestle family.

In 1886 year Anglo-Swiss Milk Company created by two brothers - Charles and George Page started producing milk for babies. Initially, the American company produced condensed milk. Having learned about this, Nestle responded by launching the production of condensed milk. What a twist! The Pages were shocked by Henry's daring answer!

2. Family coat of arms

Nest with birds is the family coat of arms of the Nestle family, translated from German Nestle means “small nest”. When Henry Nestlé was asked to change the logo to a Swiss cross, he said:

“Unfortunately, I cannot accept your idea of ​​​​replacing the socket with the Swiss cross, since I cannot have different trademarks for each country. Anyone can use the cross, but no one can use my family coat of arms."

In 1905, two competing companies merged and then a new one appeared Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Milk Company. At that time, Nestle already owned several factories in the USA, Britain, Spain and Germany. Already in 1907, the company began to capture the Australian market to increase sales.

At the beginning of the First World War, things got worse for the company, because the delivery of raw materials slowed down. Delivery routes were cut off, there were not enough raw materials, and then the company wasted all its reserves of fresh milk. However, there were also positive aspects: the US Army needed condensed milk and powdered milk. Nestle avoided its end thanks to a government order for the army. Military rations included condensed milk and powdered milk. And at the front, soldiers loved condensed milk. The company did not have enough factories, so they bought several more factories in America. By the end of the war, sales had doubled their best pre-war sales. Nestle at that time had 40 factories.

3. First chocolate and Nescafe

In 1921 year, the company suffered its first losses, the reasons for this were: rising prices for raw materials, falling exchange rates, and a complete lull in the economy. Then a Swiss banking expert, Louis Duples, appeared in the company. Having carried out a number of reforms in the company's work, he managed to normalize production.

also in early 20th century The first chocolate appears, which became as in demand as condensed milk during the war. At the same time, the company began to produce instant chocolate drink, pasta for children and the familiar coffee Nescafe!

During the Second World War Nestle increased sales again. All the company's products were in demand: instant coffee, condensed milk, chocolate, pasta. In 1943 year the company's annual income was 100 million dollars, and to late 1945 almost 245 million dollars. The company's biggest income came from instant coffee. Nescafe!

After the war years had the best impact on the company. It was during these periods that the company expanded itself and expanded its product range. After the Second World War the company merged with companies Alimentana S.A., which produced soups instant cooking, And Maggi, thus a new holding was formed Nestle Alimentana Company.

4. Enter a larger market

Nestle didn't stop at companies Alimentana S.A. And Maggi, The next step in the company’s development was the acquisition of a holding company that produces canned food, Crosse & Blackwell. Then in 1963 year, the company is already releasing new frozen and canned food products under the brand Findus.

Over the next eight years, the company actively acquired other companies, holdings and brands. Thus, in 1971 year Nestle acquires Libby- company producing natural nectars and juices. Further, the brand will be included in the composition Stouffer. Nestle becomes the largest industry of its time.

Further actions of the company bring large profits to the company. Sales Nestle have grown more than 4 times! In 1966, the company created a new technology for making coffee. The technology was a low-temperature drying process! Thus, Nestle releases a new brand of coffee - Taster's Choice.

In 1974 year the company buys a holding L'Oreal, producing cosmetics. Nestle goes beyond the food industry!

5. Nestle in modern times

IN 1990 The liquidation of companies involved in the food industry began. This situation was beneficial Nestle. It was during this period that the company began even more vigorous activity. Competitors' products were quickly replaced by the company's products. New markets are emerging in China, allowing Nestlé to increase its sales.

Nowadays it is difficult to imagine a product that would not be manufactured by the company Nestle. After all, Nestle is baby food, culinary products, coffee, chocolate, pasta, breakfast cereals, hygiene products and much more. The company owns a large number of factories around the world. Products Nestle in demand in more than 60 countries!

The first children's products were made Henry Nestle, the company developed all the rest of the food itself. Children's natural juices are very popular nowadays, as they are best for children. But people don’t even think that the company had to buy out an entire holding company and a bunch of rights to produce it.

Thanks to the site LifeHacking, you can now show off your knowledge about Nestle in front of friends.

Brand: Nestle

Tagline: Product quality. Quality of life (eng. Good food, good life)

Industry: food production

Products: Food

Owning company: Nestlé S.A.

Year of foundation: 1866

Headquarters: Switzerland

In the mid-1960s, experienced pharmacist Henry Nestlé began experimenting with various combinations of milk, wheat flour and sugar, trying to create alternative source food for babies who could not be fed with mother's milk. Its main goal was to help solve the problem of child mortality caused by insufficient and poor nutrition. The new product was called Farine Lacte Henry Nestle (Nestlé Milk Flour).

Once the new substitute formula breast milk Nestle saved the life of a premature baby, whose body did not accept either mother’s milk or its substitutes that existed at that time, this product received well-deserved recognition, and within a few years, Nestle’s Farine Lactee was actively sold in most European countries.

"Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company", founded in 1866 by Americans Charles and George Page and becoming the company's main competitor Nestle, expanded its range to include cheese and breast milk substitutes in the mid-1970s. Company Nestle, which Henry Nestlé sold to Jules Monner in 1874, responded by launching its own brand of condensed milk.

In 1875, a resident of Vevey (Switzerland), Daniel Peter, came up with a way to produce milk chocolate by combining milk and cocoa powder. Peter, a friend and neighbor of Henry Nestlé, founded the company, which quickly became a world leader in chocolate production and later became part of the corporation Nestle.

The Nestle company is now a huge corporation that produces a wide variety of products - chocolate, coffee, mineral water, ice cream, baby food, yoghurt, animal food, cosmetics, etc. The production volumes are so large that, perhaps, every average person has purchased products from Nestle at least several times. This company rightfully deserves to be included in the list of the largest and most successful food manufacturers on the world market.

Birth of Nestlé

Henry Nestle was a pharmacist by profession. In the 1860s, he became concerned about the lack of alternative feeding for infants, and began conducting experiments using milk, sugar and flour. Many babies, for one reason or another, cannot be fed with their mother's breast milk, and Henry Nestlé wanted to help them by creating a different way of feeding. In addition, at that time, many mothers did not know how and did not know how to properly care for themselves so that their breast milk was healthy. As a result, their babies did not receive enough necessary substances and simply died. Henry Nestlé solved this problem by creating the first infant formula called Nestlé Milk Flour.

Interesting fact: Before his epoch-making invention, Henry Nestle was engaged in more trivial things - he sold mustard, vinegar and gas for lanterns.

Nestlé's infant formula gained universal recognition after this product saved the life of one baby. He was born very weak and his body did not accept mother's milk or any other substitutes. He simply could have died if it had not been for Nestlé Milk Flour, which was literally a saving formula for him. This case became known in many European cities, and Nestlé's milk formula became extremely popular.

History of the logo

Henry Nestlé understood that for a brand to succeed, it needed a corporate logo that would distinguish it from others. For this logo, Henry chose the image of his family's family coat of arms - a nest with chicks. This image became the symbol of the family, since “nestle” in the Swiss dialect is translated as “small nest”. And although his consultants insisted that the logo be a different image - a white cross, Henry was adamant on this issue. “The image of the cross is everywhere. And many people use it. But only I can use my family symbol, and no one else.”

Interesting fact: the Nestle logo originally featured a nest with three chicks and a mother bird. In the late 1980s, one chick was removed from the image. The company's managers made this decision based on the fact that in those years in most European countries the average number of children in families became two, and not three, as it was before.

Competition

Founded almost 10 years before Henry's company, Charles and George Page's business, the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, became a major competitor to Nestlé. In the 1970s, this organization began active efforts to increase its range, adding more and more new dairy products to it. At that time, the Nestle company already belonged to Jules Monera and he was not going to give up to his rival. In response, they launched the production of condensed milk under the Nestle brand, which was a level higher in quality than what Pages offered.

In addition to competitors, Nestle also had friends. For example, milk chocolate, beloved by many sweet tooths, was invented by Henry Nestlé’s friend and neighbor, Daniel Peter. Having implemented a seemingly simple idea - adding milk to cocoa powder - Peter founded a successful company that broke all records for chocolate sales. Subsequently, this company became part of the Nestle corporation.

Conquering the world market

The Nestle company entered the twentieth century already having its production branches in Germany, Spain, Great Britain and America. And after 5 years, Nestle merged with its aforementioned competitor - the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company. Active construction of Nestle branches has begun in many largest cities world, product exports grew along with increased consumer loyalty. Already in 1907, the markets of Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong were developed.

World War I

First World War did not have the best effect on Nestle's activities. The company was forced to sell almost all of its milk reserves to the public, as there was a sharp shortage of food products. However, in those years, Nestle made good money from the production of condensed and powdered milk, as the country's government placed large orders of these products, which were then sent to soldiers and other people in need. Because of such a stir around condensed milk, Nestle had to open additional factories to satisfy the need for this product. By the end of the war, Nestle already had about 40 production points.

However, the end of the war was not entirely a happy event for Nestle commercially. Large orders from the government stopped. Although fresh milk was on sale, the population was in no particular hurry to buy it, since during the war years they had already become accustomed to powdered and condensed milk and did not want to return to fresh milk again. In order to somehow stabilize the situation in the company, Nestle management invited an expert from Switzerland, Louis Dulles, to cooperate. Thanks to his talent and management skills, Nestle was able to achieve an optimal ratio of production and sales, and pay off all accumulated debts without any problems.

New products

In the 1920s, Nestle began actively introducing new products into its product range. A big bet was made on chocolate and chocolate products. These products have become Nestlé's second most important products, of course, after dairy products.

Products aimed at children have also appeared. For example, powdered pasta and a drink called “Milo”. The year 1938 became especially legendary - then the world saw the Nescafe product. Nescafe instant coffee began to conquer the world market at warp speed, thanks to its low price, good taste and a competent marketing campaign.

The Second World War

The war again brings losses to Nestle. In just a year, the company's income decreased from 20 million to 6 million. Due to the fact that Switzerland became increasingly isolated from the rest of the world, the supply of products to other countries was difficult. Part of the production and specialists had to be transferred to the United States of America. American soldiers adopted Nescafe as their daily staple drink, and by mid-war sales were astonishing.

By the year the war ended, Nestle's profits reached $225 million. The company has become the absolute leader in the production of coffee, chocolate and other products.

Formation of the holding

After the war, events in the life of the Nestle company brought it only positive results. There was an active expansion of production, increasing sales and popularity of the brand. Nestle, Alimentana S.A. and Maggi Company announced their merger. This is how a holding company called Nestle Alimentana Company appeared.

But this was not the end of Nestle’s merger with other companies. Exactly in the middle of the century, the Crosse & Blackwell company, which produced canned food, became part of Nestle. Then the Findus company joined, producing and selling frozen vegetables and fruits.

Already in the 1970s, Nestle acquired the production of Libby fruit juices and Stouffer frozen foods.

Going beyond food

Although Nestlé has always been engaged in the production and sale exclusively food products, and did it very successfully, she still decided to expand globally. In the mid-1970s, Nestle became the owner of a large stake in L'Oreal, the undisputed leader in cosmetics products.

All in the same 1970s Nestle stories bad times began again. The slowdown in the economic development of many countries, the fall in exchange rates, the increase in oil prices - all this marked a deterioration financial situation Nestle. In order to somehow improve the situation, Nestle had to again take a responsible step - to acquire shares of Alcon Laboratories Inc., a company that worked in the field of ophthalmology and pharmaceuticals. Why was this move risky? Because Nestle did not yet have a relationship with these industries, and it was quite difficult to predict how this would affect future activities. However, Nestle coped well with cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and ophthalmology.

In the early 1990s, Nestle began its most favorable period in its activities. All barriers to export and trade that had been present until this time were removed. The successful development of new markets in Europe and Asia began, which gave Nestle endless opportunities and prospects for development.

What do we have now? When you go to any grocery store, you are sure to find products on the shelves that are somehow related to the Nestle company. Coffee, chocolate, baby food, canned food, drinks, seasonings, and other culinary products - Nestle has produced and continues to produce all of this. Nestle products are supplied to more than 60 countries around the world, and in many of them they are the best sellers among competitors.

Nestle is the world's largest company that produces food, animal feed, and cosmetics. The company's motto is “Quality of products, quality of life.” Nestlé invites consumers to healthy image life, purchasing only high-quality and proven products. Where did the history of the most famous brand today begin?

A pharmacist from Switzerland named Henri Nestlé in late XIX century was puzzled by the creation of a formula for baby food that would exactly replicate mother's milk. He is driven to research by his wife Clementine, the daughter of a doctor. She often helped her father and saw many child deaths. Clementine knew that eating problems were one of the common reasons deaths of babies. She asks her husband to help. And he succeeds! Henri produces Farine Lactee Henry Nestle, consisting of milk, flour and sugar.

Inspired by the success, the pharmacist decides to open his own small company, which would be engaged in milk production. He manages to do this already in 1867. Henri Nestlé transfers the family coat of arms (a nest with three chicks) to the company logo.

One sales agent suggested that the pharmacist change the sign to the cross found on the Swiss flag, but he firmly refused. In 1988, the coat of arms underwent a change - instead of three chicks, there were two on it. This is a simple association with families of that time. Europeans and Americans of the late 20th century most often had two children.

First client. The company's first client was a baby with an allergy to breast milk. The poor baby couldn't stand cow's milk either. The doctors shrugged their shoulders. Henri Nestlé offered the child dry formula own production, and it did not cause allergies! The child was saved thanks to Nestle. The case caused a stir in the country and the pharmacist’s mixtures began to quickly sell out not only in Switzerland, but throughout Europe. Henri's pocket gradually became fuller.

Competitors Charles and George Pagedie were also not sitting idle. Since the 70s of the 19th century, their condensed milk plant has been producing formula for baby food. The Nestle plant could not stand it and started producing condensed milk in response. Before 1905, the two companies were fierce competitors in the dairy market. At this time, Nestlé had already opened factories in Spain, Germany, the USA and the UK. In 1905, the two companies merged to form the Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Milk Company. From this time on, the owners began active work to expand the sales market, beginning to capture Australia.

Useful video: corporate film about history.

What did the World Wars bring with them?

The First World War brought with it serious problems. The entire production power of the company was located in the territory of the “Old World”, but the path there was practically closed. Almost all supplies of fresh milk have come to an end. But the population needed a large number of powdered and condensed milk - this saved the company in difficult times. Thanks to a government order for the army, Nestle is confidently staying afloat in the remaining war time. The company even buys several factories in the USA. When the war ends, Nestlé has almost 40 factories - double what it was in 1914.

Interesting fact. Many people associate the company with chocolate, but it makes up only three percent of total sales.

The post-war period hits production quite hard. Raw materials are becoming more expensive, exchange rates are falling... The economy has calmed down. At this difficult time, Louis Duples appears, a banking expert who saved the company from collapse. Having reformed production, he established trade again. At the same time, Nestle is expanding its product range. Chocolate, malted milk, baby powdered pasta and the well-known Nescafe coffee, which created a real sensation, are on sale!

During World War II, Nestle again expanded its sales. Coffee, condensed milk and chocolate are literally flying off the shelves. If in 1943 the income was equal to 100 million dollars, then by 1945 it was 245 million, and precisely Nescafe brings this success to the company.

New mergers

In the post-war years, Nestle actively replenishes its production and expands its range. The merger with Alimentana S.A and Maggi provides an opportunity to sell instant soups and seasonings. In 1950, Crosse & Blackwell joined Nestlé, and in 1963, Findus. The company now sells canned soups and frozen foods. In 1971, after merging with the Libby brand, Nestlé established the production and sale of fruit juices. By 1974, the company's sales soared by 50%.

Beginning changes

In 1974, Nestlé expanded beyond the food trade and acquired shares of the famous cosmetics brand L’Oreal. This is done to maintain balance. After all, prices for cocoa beans are doubling, and prices for coffee are tripling. For the same purpose, the company is buying shares of the pharmaceutical company Alcon Laboratories Inc. Nestlé remains afloat and, since the 90s of the 20th century, has eliminated trade barriers. New European and Chinese markets are opening up...

Work in the 90s of the last century

In 1997, the board of directors decided to purchase the Italian brand drinking water San Pellegrino. In the same year, the company was headed by Peter Brabeck-Letman, who preferred to invest money in the most profitable directions market. A little later the stamp was bought Spiller Petfoods. But the company's biggest deal was the merger with the company Carnation. Her brand Friskies, which Nestlé acquired for $3 billion, brings the company unprecedented revenue and firmly positions it in the pet food trade market. Brabeck is considered one of the most active directors of the company, who almost completely rebuilt it.

Nestle today

Today it is difficult to meet a person who has not heard about the Nestle company and has not tried its products. In any store you can find baby food, coffee, quick breakfasts and other products from Nestle. The company owns a huge number of factories around the world, including in Russia. More than 60 countries around the world love and respect this brand!

This is interesting. Nestlé owns 461 factories around the world, 83 countries and 330 thousand workers are engaged in the production of goods.

Nestle in Russia

Nestlé are starting their business relationship with Russia in the distant 19th century. Alexander Wenzel signs a contract for the supply of dairy products to our lands, thereby opening cooperation with the brand for many years.
A new round of relations occurred only in the 20th century. In the 90s, the distribution network was actively developing, offering the population mainly coffee. Already in 1996, Nestlé became a full-fledged company in Russia, having established a sales and import system. In 2007, the company received a new name in our country, “Nestlé-Russia”.

Competitors. The company's main competitors are PepsiCo, Mars, Unilever.

Today Nestle is largest company for the sale of food and beverages. Long-term success is not a simple coincidence. This is the result of hard work and diligence of the board of directors, which did not give up in the most difficult times. Active promotion of brands, constant mergers with smaller companies, endless expansion of the sales market - all this has led Nestle to stunning success!

Useful video: corporate film about activities in Russia.

The basis for the emergence of the enterprise, which later grew into a well-known company, was the research of the Swiss pharmacist Henry Nestlé, who was trying to create a breast milk substitute for feeding infants. Using milk, wheat flour and sugar, Henry Nestle developed a product called Farine Lactee Henry Nestle - “Henry Nestle's Milk Flour”.

The company producing and selling this product was established in 1867. His goal was to create nutrition for infants who, for one reason or another, could not be fed with mother's milk, thereby partially solving the problem of infant mortality from insufficient or improper nutrition.

The first consumer of the new product was a premature baby, whose body did not accept either mother's milk or existing substitutes, and doctors were powerless to help the baby. After a child’s life was actually saved thanks to the new product, Nestlé Milk Flour received wide recognition and within a few years was successfully sold in most European countries.

Meanwhile, the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, founded in 1886 by Americans Charles and George Page, expanded its product range and began producing breast milk substitutes in the mid-1970s. The Nestle company, owned by Jules Monner since 1874, took a retaliatory step and launched its own brand of condensed milk on the market. The companies remained major competitors in this area until they merged in 1905.

The history of the logo.

Henry Nestlé decided to use his family coat of arms - a nest with birds - as a trademark. In Swiss dialect German language Nestle means "little nest". One of the sales agents suggested replacing the nest with the white cross of the Swiss flag, but Nestlé refused this idea: “ I'm sorry, but I can't afford to replace the socket with a Swiss cross, I can't have different trademarks for each country - anyone can use the cross, but no one can use my family coat of arms».

Entering the world market.

In 1905, a merger took place to form a company called the Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Milk Company. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, the company owned factories in the United States, Britain, Germany and Spain.

In 1907, the company began to conquer the Australian market, which allowed it to double its production volume. At the same time, warehouses were opened in Singapore, Hong Kong and Bombay to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Asian market.

However, the main production facilities were still located in Europe, and the outbreak of the First World War dealt a serious blow to the company's activities. It became increasingly difficult to obtain raw materials and distribute finished products. A shortage of fresh milk across Europe has forced factories to sell off virtually all supplies to meet the population's needs.

But despite the difficulties, the war created unprecedented demand for powdered and condensed milk, mainly due to government orders. To cope with them, Nestlé acquired several factories in the United States. By the end of the war, the company owned 40 factories, and production volume had almost doubled compared to 1914.

The emergence of Nescafe.

The post-war period brought with it a crisis for Nestle. Government orders stopped coming in, and people, accustomed to powdered and condensed milk during the war, preferred to return to fresh milk as soon as it became available again. In 1921, the company suffered losses for the first time. Rising prices for raw materials, the post-war lull in the global economy and falling exchange rates exacerbated the situation.

Nestle management quickly responded to the current situation and invited the Swiss banking expert Louis Duples to reorganize the company. By aligning the level of production and sales, as well as reducing outstanding debts, he adjusted the company's operations.

In the twenties, Nestlé for the first time expanded beyond its traditional range. Chocolate production has become the company's second most important activity. New products appeared: malted milk, Milo instant drink, powdered buttermilk for children and, in 1938, Nescafe. This instant powder revolutionized coffee consumption worldwide and quickly gained popularity.

Global turmoil.

The outbreak of World War II had a negative impact on Nestle's activities. The company's profits fell from US$20 million in 1938 to US$6 million in 1939. Neutral Switzerland became increasingly isolated from war-torn Europe, and the company moved a significant portion of its employees to Stamford, Connecticut.

Ironically, World War II helped accelerate progress newest product company - Nescafe. After the United States entered the war, Nescafe became a staple drink American soldiers and officers who served in Europe and Asia. By 1943, annual production reached a million boxes.

As during the First World War, the level of production and sales in the war economy increased significantly: total sales jumped from $100 million in 1938 to $225 million in 1945. By the end of the war, Nestle executives suddenly found themselves heading a concern leading in the global coffee business, as well as in other traditional Nestle production areas.

Growth in production and expansion of assortment.

The post-war years became the most dynamic phase in the history of Nestlé. During this period, the company's growth was based on expanding the range of food products produced by the company. Alimentana S.A. has joined Nestle. - manufacturer of Maggi soups and seasonings. The name was changed to Nestle Alimentana Company. This was followed by the acquisition of Crosse & Blackwell, a British canned food manufacturer, in 1950, as well as Findus in 1963 (frozen foods), Libby in 1971 (fruit juices) and Stouffer in 1973 (frozen foods).

Meanwhile, Nescafe's popularity continued to rise. Sales from 1950 to 1959 instant coffee almost tripled, and from 1960 to 1974 they quadrupled. The company's sales have quadrupled in the 15 years since the end of World War II. Development new technology low-temperature drying led to the appearance in 1966 of a new brand of instant coffee - Taster’s Choice.

Finally, Nestlé management decided to expand beyond the food industry for the first time. In 1974, the company became the largest shareholder of the world leader in the production of cosmetics - L'Oreal.

Changing positions.

In 1974, Nestlé's position began to change. For the first time since 1920, the company's economic situation worsened due to rising oil prices and slowing economic growth in industrialized countries. In addition, world currencies fell against the Swiss franc. As a result, between 1975 and 1977, coffee prices quadrupled and cocoa prices tripled. As in 1921, the company had to quickly respond to a radically changed market situation.

Increased sales in developing countries partially mitigated the impact of the decline in Nestlé's traditional markets, but at the same time carried risks associated with the unstable political and economic situation in these countries. To maintain balance, Nestlé acquired Alcon Laboratories, Inc., a non-food industry American manufacturer of pharmaceutical and ophthalmic products.

Nestlé today and tomorrow.

The first half of the nineties was a favorable period for Nestlé: trade barriers were eliminated, and integration processes continued in the world market. Opening of the Central and of Eastern Europe, as well as China, provided Nestlé with new ways to market its products.

Nestlé began the 20th century by merging with the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company to increase its product range and expand its geographic reach. The company enters the new millennium as a strong leader in the food industry, with more than 500 factories in 70 countries and annual sales of more than CHF 71 billion.

Since 1996, consolidation processes have been reflected in the acquisition of an Italian manufacturing concern mineral water San Pellegrino (in 1997), the purchase of the English company Spiller Petfoods (in 1998), and the decision to sell the Findus brand (in 1999) in order to concentrate efforts on the production of more profitable frozen foods. The acquisition of Spiller Petfoods strengthens Nestlé's position in Europe in the pet food market, which the company entered back in 1985 with the acquisition of Carnation and its Friskies brand. Carnation was acquired at auction for US$3 billion. At that time she had heavy weight among American food manufacturing companies. The merger was one of the largest in the history of the food industry.

Nestlé's recent decision to close its ground coffee operations in the United States (Hill Bros, MJB, Chase & Sanborn) will allow the company to focus on its new luxury line, Nescafé, which began production in September 1999.

Maintaining a leading position in a changing market requires sufficient mobility from the company. The existing range of products is being supplemented, the geography of activity is expanding.