Latest news with #LaurentFreixe
Daily Maverick
10 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Nestlé to ‘evolve' nutrition and reporting after investor criticism of healthy food targets
The Global Access to Nutrition Index 2024 by ATNi found that of product sales, only 32.7% are from healthier Nestlé products. Nestlé CEO Laurent Freixe posted on LinkedIn that after another meeting at the end of 2024 with ShareAction investors they agreed to 'evolve Nestlé's reporting on nutritional value of the company's portfolio' as well as 'make it easier for investors to compare companies and their portfolios across the food industry'. This came after March 2024, when ShareAction, the responsible investing charity, filed a resolution asking Nestlé to set targets to increase the sales of healthier foods, and apply internationally accepted standards that define healthy foods. This means that Nestlé's portfolio may be moving towards more transparency, as well as hopefully pushing the marketing and sales of healthier foods. ANTi analysed the Nestlé product portfolio at the end of 2024, finding that only 32.7% of the sales are from healthier Nestlé foods and beverages. 'I think that there is still a very long way to go – although I guess a little credit must be given for the slight shift towards healthy food,' said Sue Goldstein, public health medicine specialist and division director at the SAMRC Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science at PRICELESS SA. Nestlé had an overall score of 3.7 out of 10, scoring lowest on affordable nutrition (3/10) and portfolio improvement (3.5/10) and highest on Reporting Nutrient Profile Models (9/10) which are a system for classifying foods based on nutritional content, often used to assess healthiness – such as fats, sugars and salt. People often say that food choices are down to the individual. But what is available, accessible, affordable, desirable, convenient and effective with marketing all play a role in determining people's choices. 'Evolve' nutrition reporting 'We appreciate the constructive dialogue with ATNi and ShareAction and their recognition of our progress and transparency. We have the same interest – making balanced diets accessible for all people around the world. We are one of the food companies at the forefront of the work on this and it requires the whole industry to engage to make a difference,' Conny Sethaelo, corporate communications and public affairs director at Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region, told Daily Maverick. Freixe added that with Nestlé's next non-financial report they will 'evolve' nutrition reporting via three mechanisms: add new data aligned with the scope of ATNi, include a sales weighted average measure for relevant categories and the total portfolio, and continue to use the Health Star Rating system. Further steps ATNI lauded the progress Nestlé has made, but said 'further steps are needed to fully align with ATNi's expectations for responsible nutrition reporting.' These include: Setting a clear and ambitious target to increase the share of healthier products sold, and reducing sales of less-healthy products; Greater transparency on reduction of nutrients of concern (sugar, sodium, saturated fat); Public reporting of marketing audit results and responsible marketing practices; Progress updates on front-of-pack labelling and use of nutrition or health claims; and Full adherence to the WHO Code on the marketing of breast milk substitutes. 'We comply with the World Health Organization International Code for the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and World Health Assembly resolutions as implemented by national governments everywhere in the world,' Sethaelo said. She added that they have restricted the promotion of formula for infants aged 0 to six months worldwide. In more than 160 countries, including South Africa, they apply stricter rules to prevent promoting formula for infants of 0 to 12 months. Social media sites available in South Africa, such as Facebook, do have Nestlé pages such as ' Nestlé Nankid 4 ' where age is not mentioned, on posts saying things like 'Every growing kid with a growing mind deserves a good foundation. With NESTLÉ® NANKID® OPTIPRO® 4 daily, your kid gets the support they need for their growing body and growing mind.' The Facebook page description is 'baby goods/children's goods'. Nutrition governance: 7.8/10 Nestlé has committed to the target 'to grow the sales of more nutritious products by CHF 20 to 25 billion by 2030, representing about 50% growth over 2022 sales'. 'Nutritious products' refers to products that meet Health Star Rating (HSR) 3.5 (or above) and its specialised nutrition products (such as baby foods, supplements and medical nutrition). Nestlé is strongly recommended to increase the sales target of healthier foods relative to less-healthy products, to ensure that sales of less-healthy products do not grow at the same rate. Portfolio improvement: 3.5/10 Nestlé has committed to reducing sodium in frequently consumed products by 2025, with targets for further reductions set for 2030. The company reports that it has achieved '5-6% sugar and salt reduction over the last six years' and met 2025 sodium reduction objectives in half of its product categories. Asked how they will address nutrient differences in the Global South, since products for infants and toddlers have more sugar in countries like South Africa, Sethaelo said the approach is 'global, meaning we are committed to providing more nutritious, affordable food and beverages to people in all countries in which we operate, including LMICs'. 'At Nestlé, we're committed to making a positive impact by creating products that tackle locally relevant nutritional deficiencies and are regularly consumed by a large portion of the population. Our goal is to offer foods that support a balanced diet and are affordable for those who need them most – helping meet critical societal needs while creating lasting value for our business.' Saturated fats and sticking to a date As with sugar reduction, the company said it will focus on growing sales of products meeting HSR≥ 3.5. While saturated fat is a major component of the HSR algorithm, there is no reformulation target for saturated fat reduction. Industrially produced trans fat (iTFA) is an industrial process of adding hydrogen to vegetable oil, going from a liquid to a solid. It can be found in baked goods, some packaged foods and margarine, for example. Among other dietary factors, high intake of trans fat increases the risk of death from any cause by 34%, coronary heart disease deaths by 28% and coronary heart disease by 21%. Nestlé indicates that the company has successfully limited iTFA to less than 2g per 100g of fats and oils, aligning with WHO recommendations. Additionally, the company has shown evidence of internal standards in place to prevent the presence of iTFA. Nestlé is encouraged to report specifically on its progress in reducing levels of sodium (ideally in line with the WHO sodium benchmarks), saturated fats, and sugar, across all relevant product categories – and set a specific, measurable and time-bound target for reducing levels of saturated fats and free sugars. Reformulating, reducing and investing in marketing Sethaelo explained that they believe an 'absolute target' is the best way to guide the strategy of increasing sales of more nutritious foods and beverages. 'We are proud of all of our products and want to ensure that we address responsibly the diverse needs and preferences of our consumers,' said Sethaelo, adding that they are 'taking action across three key areas.' 'These are reformulating existing products and developing new ones with improved nutrient profiles,' Sethaelo said. They have 'reduced health-sensitive nutrients but believe that a holistic approach to improving nutritional value based on nutrient profiling systems (including HSR) is the best approach.' And they are investing significant marketing spend behind products scoring HSR 3.5 and above, she explained. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains Nestlé, through its joint venture with General Mills as Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW), commits to having whole grains as the main ingredient in its cereals. Nestlé provided evidence of tracking the percentage of products with whole grain as the number-one ingredient over the past three years. Nestlé is encouraged to set targets to increase levels or sales of products containing meaningful levels of minimally processed fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes (FVNL) and whole grains across all relevant product categories and report against them. For its CPW target, the company is recommended to publish how it defines 'whole grains' in this context, ideally using the Whole Grain Initiative definition. 'We do support the Whole Grain Initiative definition – and advocate for harmonisation of whole grain food definitions globally, using this one as standard,' Sethaelo said. This is particularly important to sub-Saharan Africa, as Nestlé has announced a $7-million (R124-million) investment to expand its cereal manufacturing facility in Harare, Zimbabwe. How else does Nestlé score? In the Nutrient Profiling Model Nestlé scored 2.6 out of 10. Nestlé reports on the healthiness of its product sales using Health Star Rating, which was originally only applied to its children and family category products in 2020, and now applies to the entire global portfolio – an improvement. However, while the company shared details with ATNi about how it categorises products according to HSR guidelines, it did so under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). To enhance transparency, Nestlé is strongly encouraged to publish the healthiness of its product sales according to HSR, excluding the plain coffee portfolio, or make it available on request, without an NDA. In terms of affordable nutrition, it scored three out of 10. For workforce nutrition, it scored seven out of 10. In terms of responsible labelling, it scored 7.5 out of 10. With responsible marketing, it scored 4.1 out of 10. Nestlé recently launched a platform called GoodNes, collaborating with South African influencers to cook 'healthier food'. For example, it featured cooking with instant noodles, which while usually low in calories, are high in sodium, fat and carbohydrates. The amount of salt in one packet of noodles far exceeds the daily recommended intake. 'The way that healthy food is promoted on the GoodNes platform includes processed meats (which are carcinogenic) and foods high in salt like: 'Maggi Lazenby stir-fry, featuring a blend of beloved brands like Maggi 2-Minute Noodles and Worcestershire Sauce.' In some ways, this is even more dangerous as they are claiming that these are healthy foods and innocent people who are trying their best for their families fall for this hidden advertising,' Goldstein said. 'What this means for countries like South Africa is that we don't have the monitors who are able to follow exactly what Nestlé are doing – in our universities – on social media, and in other spaces. Thus, they can get away with promoting unhealthy foods as healthy with no comeback. 'The limited goal of improving their foods to be healthier will not be sufficient to turn the tide against the obesity tsunami we are facing,' she concluded. DM
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nestlé hit with shocking accusations of misleading its customers: 'It doesn't stand up to the reality'
Nestlé is in hot water after French regulators and consumer watchdogs accused the brand of misleading consumers by referring to its Perrier products as "natural mineral water." As detailed by The New York Times, the European Union has strict rules surrounding the designation of water as "natural." Nestlé Waters, Perrier's parent company, allegedly failed to adhere to those regulations because it uses filters and ultraviolet sterilizers to treat its water. A French Senate investigation revealed that Nestlé hid its treatment of Perrier and other bottled water with the assistance of the government, with members of President Emmanuel Macron's office aware that "that Nestlé had been cheating for years," according to the report. "This scandal is a sort of textbook case of regulatory capture and state-industry collusion," said Sen. Alexandre Ouizille, who headed the six-month investigation. (Macron's office did not respond to the Times but has previously denied allegations of collusion.) Nestlé has a market value of over $250 billion. Ouizille told the Times that the brand's dishonest labeling practices brought in at least €3 billion ($3.5 billion) at the expense of consumers who trusted the multinational brand to live up to its claims. However, Nestlé chief executive Laurent Freixe suggested earlier this year that consumer expectations surrounding "natural" products were unrealistic, with environmental contamination making it increasingly difficult to source safe, clean water without human intervention. "This romantic idea that you can take pure water from the source, bottle it without any intervention and ensure food safety is just that: romantic," he told Swiss media, per the Times. "It doesn't stand up to the reality of human activity." Climate scientist Peter Gleick, who co-founded the Pacific Institute — a California-based research firm focused on ensuring water security, which is endangered by the effects of rising global temperatures — agreed with this assessment in a statement to the Times. "This is part of a longer trend of growing threats to groundwater," Gleick said. However, he also suggested Nestlé's marketing tactics could harm the company's bottom line. "They want to sell spring water because it carries a premium in the public's eye," he said. "Now if they're just reprocessing it the way they process tap water, it's harder and harder for them to claim that. And as people learn that, they'll lose money." Do you think we should be trying to pull pollution out of the atmosphere? Absolutely I need to know more In some situations No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Nestlé affirmed the quality of its water and didn't admit to misconduct. Yet it acknowledged "common challenges" in the bottled water industry and suggested that regulations should be more consistent and clear. "With food safety as a primary goal, the company reiterates that all its natural mineral water products on the market have always been and remain safe to drink, and their unique minerality is as shown on the label," the company said, per the Times. On a personal level, you can contribute to a cleaner future by avoiding single-use plastic products. Usually derived from polluting dirty fuels, plastics can take 1,000 years or longer to break down, shedding microplastics and toxic chemicals into the environment in the process. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nestlé takes minority stake in India's Drools Pet Food Private
Nestlé has taken a minority stake in India's Drools Pet Food Private, the Swiss food giant announced on Monday (26 May). Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but Nestlé said in a statement that Drools will remain "strategically as well as operationally" independent. Drools describes itself as India's "first home-grown pet-food brand" as it acknowledged the Nestlé investment on LinkedIn. "This step forward builds on the momentum we've gained since partnering with L Catterton in 2023," Drools added. In 2023, the US-headquartered private-equity firm L Catterton acquired a minority stake in Drools in a deal worth around $60m. "Since our founding in 2010, we've grown into a key player in India's pet-food sector, with a presence in over 40,000 retail outlets and exports to 22 countries," Drools said. "Backed by science-based nutrition, strong retail and e-commerce reach, and robust manufacturing capabilities, we remain deeply committed to delivering quality pet nutrition with love and care," the company added. Drools manufactures dog and cat food, selling the products under its namesake brand, as well as those of Pure Pet and Kitty Yum. The pet food is available at retailers across India, as well as e-commerce channels through Amazon and Bengaluru-headquartered Flipkart. Elsewhere, Nestlé expanded its pet-food production in Hungary in 2023. It opened two new production units at its Purina factory, increasing output by 66%. Nestlé stuck with its full-year outlook in April despite inferring that consumers are stretched and have yet to feel the impact of the group's most recent price rises. Its petcare annual sales were relatively flat in 2024, coming in at SFr18.88bn ($22.8bn) from SFr18.86bn a year earlier. Group sales amounted to SFr91.35bn, down from SFr93bn a year earlier. In terms of the company's overall results, CEO Laurent Freixe refrained from pinpointing an actual organic growth target for the new fiscal year, sticking to language for an improvement over Nestlé's 2.2% pace in 2024. He also said the Swiss giant was aiming for its underlying trading operating profit margin (UTOP) to be 'at or above' 16% as the company plans to 'invest for growth'. "Nestlé takes minority stake in India's Drools Pet Food Private" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Nestle to refocus on core business, CEO says
Swiss food giant Nestle is refocusing on the group's core business after straying into segments like health supplements that "weakened the fabric of the organisation," CEO Laurent Freixe was quoted as saying in the Financial Times on Thursday. Freixe, who took the helm of the company in September, told the newspaper he did not see the merits of slimming down the company's portfolio, except in segments where Nestle was not in a position to win. "I think we should never forget that M&A is not the strategy," he was quoted as saying. In another interview earlier this week, Freixe said Nestle was recovering market share in the U.S. despite concerns stemming from the Trump administration's imposition of tariffs on its key trading partners last month.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nestle to refocus on core business, says CEO Freixe
STORY: Swiss food giant Nestle will refocus on its core business after diversification into different types of products 'weakened the fabric' of the company. :: File That's according to its boss Laurent Freixe, who took over the company in September. He told the Financial Times that straying into segments like health supplements meant its core brands in coffee, petcare and food were neglected. He said he only saw merits in slimming down the group's portfolio in places where Nestle wasn't in a position to win. In another interview earlier this week, Friexe revealed that Nestle, owner of brands including Nescafe and KitKat, is recovering market share in the U.S. That's despite concerns of impact from President Donald Trump's trade tariffs... ... and American consumers feeling unsettled by a slowdown in the economy. Leading with an attitude that 'M&A is not the strategy', Friexe branded Nestle as 'on the right track.'
