Nestlé stops production and sales of non-essential goods in Russia
23 March 2022
Nestlé has bowed to pressure and stopped the local production and sales of non-essential goods such as KitKats and Nesquik in Russia.
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The move comes after Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, called out Nestlé and several other companies for staying in Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. He accused the KitKat maker of not living up to its “Good Food, Good Life” slogan, building on a wave of online criticism from shoppers, activists, investors and political figures.
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“As the war continues in Ukraine, our activities in Russia will focus on providing essential food, such as infant food and medical/hospital nutrition – not on making a profit,” the company said in a statement.
“We do not expect to make a profit in the country or pay any related taxes for the foreseeable future in Russia. If any profit is made, it will be donated in its entirety to humanitarian relief organisations.”
A spokesperson for Nestlé said that it would continue to pay its Russian workers, adding: “We are in the process of identifying solutions for our people and our factories in Russia.”
The company is meanwhile continuing to operate in Ukraine. A spokesperson said Nestlé was still able to deliver 60% of its prewar volumes in the country but had halted operations at its Kharkiv noodle factory owing to heavy shelling in the area.
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