Despite the fact that Russia is waging war against Ukraine, Nestle has not stopped its operations in the country. On the contrary, the company supplies its products to Russia and expands its production base.
This was reported by the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption.
“After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the company announced the suspension of exports and imports to Russia, except for essential goods. However, the shelves of Russian stores are still full of their products. Among the available products are Bystrow breakfasts, Maggi soups and bouillon cubes, Purina pet food, chocolate bars, and Nespresso coffee,” the article says.
At the beginning of 2022, Nestle had seven plants in Russia. Their profit from the Russian market was about 2% of the total business. The company explained its presence in Russia by the need to provide the population with basic necessities and to take care of its Russian employees. Nestle employed more than 7000 Russians.
In 2021, Nestle paid about $25 million in taxes to the Russian budget. At the same time, the company did not publish its financial statements for 2022.
According to the NACP, in October 2022, the company imported technical equipment into Russia under the guise of milk powder, as evidenced by the proceedings of the Moscow Arbitration Court No. A40-24044/2023. In other words, the company imports not only raw materials for basic necessities, but also tries to covertly send technological equipment to Russia to develop its own business.
“This proves that history has taught the Swiss corporation Nestle nothing. Back during the Second World War, the company worked on two fronts, supplying its products to the German army’s dry rations and at the same time exporting them to the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition. Thus, by staying in Russia, Nestle is once again showing the whole world that it is okay to cooperate with the aggressor. And Russia itself demonstrates that it is still integrated into global processes, despite war crimes and the murder of thousands of Ukrainians,” the agency emphasizes.
In 2022, Nestle imported $374 million worth of semi-finished products and raw materials to Russia, and $271 million in the first 9 months of 2023.
For its activities, the company was included in the NACP list of international sponsors of war.
What else is known about Nestle
Nestle is a Swiss company that holds a leading position in the global food market. The company is present in 187 countries and produces a variety of products such as instant coffee, mineral water, chocolate, ice cream, milk, baby food, pet food, etc. Among its most famous brands: KitKat, Nescafé, Nesquik, Nestea and others.
In April of this year, the management of Nestlé Russia LLC asked the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation to take the necessary measures to restrict public access to the results of operations and financial statements of the company’s subsidiaries contained in the state information resource of financial statements. Reportedly, the purpose of this step is likely to avoid imposing sanctions on Nestle’s subsidiaries.
