Nestle announced on Wednesday that it will discontinue several non-essential brands in Russia, including KitKat chocolate and Nesquik, in an unprecedented move in response to criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
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— Nestlé (@Nestle) March 23, 2022
A spokesperson for Nestlé, which employs more than 7,000 people in Russia, told CNN: “We have significantly scaled back out activities in Russia: we have stopped all imports and exports from Russia, except for essential products.”
“We no longer make investments or advertise our products. We do not make a profit from our remaining activities.”
The company previously stated that it had ceased all non-essential exports and imports from Russia, as well as all advertising and capital investment. It also stated that it was not profitable in Russia.
Nestle stated, “We stand with the people of Ukraine and our 5,800 employees there.” It stated that it would continue to pay Russian workers.
Nestle has long been chastised by activist groups and governments for issues such as bottled water manufacturing, its decision to remain in South Africa during apartheid, and its baby formula marketing practises.
“There’s a history of protesting against Nestle,” said Jaideep Prabhu, a professor of marketing at the University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School.
“Nestle is much more front and center than P&G and Unilever when it comes to people knowing that they make their products…Nestle’s logos are very prominent on its products.”
Some Ukrainian politicians have also condemned the company, as has the activist group “Anonymous,” which has called for a boycott of its products.
