Nestle SA to expand nutritious food and beverage industry in the emerging Asian markets including Sri Lanka
Nestle SA is set to expand the nutritious food and beverage industry in the emerging markets of China, Asia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Middle East to cater to the needs of the growing population including children below the age of five with deficiency of iron, vitamin A, iodine and protein, said Nestlé S.A. Executive Vice President and Zone Director for Asia, Oceania, Africa and Middle East Nandu Nandkishore.
Picture shows Nestlé S.A’s. Executive Vice President Nandu Nandkishore explaining their strategy.
Addressing a media conference in Colombo recently Mr. Nandkishore noted that amidst widespread DCD contamination issue which has now died down, the company has to expand dairy and nutritious food production in the wake of the challenges the fast-moving consumer good (FMCG) segment was facing amid a general slowdown in several continents.
He pointed out that “the rapid urbanisation is also driving growth in the emerging markets, China, ASEAN, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Middle East,”
“The company is investing and expanding in Sri Lanka and it is looking to grow its Sri Lanka market,” he said adding that they also have high investment plans for the country .
“The rapid urbanisation is also driving growth in the emerging markets, namely China, Asean, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Middle East,” he said.
Nestlé S.A has become the first major multi-national company to launch a human rights white paper, he revealed.
The company has reported publicly on its human rights impacts across seven countries, and what it is doing to address them.
“Human rights impact assessments are an emerging science and corporate human rights impact assessments are still a rare best practice, publicly sharing the results takes it one step further. Nestlé was the first multinational company to take this step,” he added
He disclosed that through comprehensive nutrition policies they have reduced trans fatty acids, salt, sugar and saturated fats in products across the company’s worldwide food and beverage product portfolio offering consumers healthier options.
Managing Director of Nestlé Lanka PLC Ganesan Ampalavanar opined that they are collecting the highest milk intake of 180,000 litres a day from 18,000 Sri Lankan dairy farmers paying Rs. 60 per litre.
A sum of Rs. 4.2 billion has been paid for dairy farmers and this was a substantial contribution for the rural economy, he said.
Developing and contributing to Sri Lanka’s rural economy has always been the priority of Nestlé’s because the overall wellbeing of the farmers and the rural communities is intrinsic for the long-term success of the local company, he added.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka’s first ever Retail Innovation Centre (RIC) set up by Nestlé Lanka PLC, was opened recently at its Colombo 10 premises.
The RIC concept by Nestlé is based on Nestlé’s Retail Innovation Technology and it comprised a series of typical boutiques, tea boutiques and shops filled with retail merchandise.
It is geared to train FMCG distributors, consumers and shop-owners as well as to act as a testing ground of Lankan consumer behaviour on Nestlé Lanka’s rollouts and it also operates as a retail consumer and distributor testing laboratory.
Nestlé has been in Sri Lanka since the 1980s and has three UHT (Ultra- High- Temperature processing) milk factories in the island. The company has over 5600 shareholders who are mostly locals and over 1200 direct employees with more than 20,000 employees benefiting indirectly.
The company has also established milk chilling centres and milk collection points across the island to facilitate the procurement of local fresh milk.