Nestle is everywhere, it’s the world’s largest food company, but do you know who owns Nestle or how this giant company even started?
If not, then in this guide, we’ll discuss every detail about Nestle, from who owns it to how you can own it.
About Nestle
Nestle was established by the merger of the ‘Anglo-Swiss Milk Company’ established in the year 1866 by George and Charles Page, and “Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé” founded in 1867 by Henry Nestle.
The company then significantly grew during the era of World War I and World War II.
As of 2014, it is the largest food company in the world. The products include baby food, medical food, bottled water, breakfast cereals, coffee, tea, confectionery, dairy products, frozen food, ice cream, pet food, and snacks.
Nestle has 447 factories and operates in 189 countries. It is one of the largest shareholders of L’Oreal- the world’s largest cosmetics company.
Who Owns Nestle?
Nestle is a Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate corporation. It is headquartered in Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland.
It is a publicly owned multinational food processing company, and therefore, it is owned by its shareholders.
The current CEO of the conglomerate is Mark Schneider.
Ownership Structure of Nestlé
Nestlé, a global food and beverage corporation, has a complex ownership structure. The key shareholders are detailed below:
Nestlé S.A.
Nestlé S.A. is the parent company of Nestlé, owning 3% of the total shares, and plays a vital role in the overall corporate framework.
Institutional Investors
BlackRock
BlackRock is a leading institutional investor in Nestlé, holding over 5% of the company’s shares.
The Vanguard Group
The Vanguard Group owns 5.4% of Nestlé’s shares, positioning itself alongside BlackRock as one of the largest stakeholders in the corporation.
Nestle Ownership by Institutional Shareholders
| Name | Equities | % | Valuation |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Vanguard Group, Inc. | 92,986,605 | 3.483 % | 11 454 M CHF |
| NESTLÉ S.A. | 81,858,616 | 3.066 % | 10 084 M CHF |
| Norges Bank Investment Management | 77,920,004 | 2.918 % | 9 598 M CHF |
| Capital Research & Management Co. (World Investors) | 54,218,820 | 2.031 % | 6 679 M CHF |
| Credit Suisse Asset Management (Schweiz) AG | 33,590,686 | 1.258 % | 4 138 M CHF |
| Massachusetts Financial Services Co. | 19,557,907 | 0.7325 % | 2 409 M CHF |
| UBS Asset Management Switzerland AG | 18,268,878 | 0.6842 % | 2 250 M CHF |
| MFS International (UK) Ltd. | 17,229,644 | 0.6453 % | 2 122 M CHF |
| Fidelity Management & Research Co. LLC | 16,606,450 | 0.6220 % | 2 046 M CHF |
| Geode Capital Management LLC | 16,414,036 | 0.6148 % | 2 022 M CHF |
Who is the Biggest Shareholder of Nestle?
The biggest shareholder of Nestlé is BlackRock, Inc. This company holds a significant number of shares in Nestlé, making them the largest shareholder.
What Are The Famous Acquisitions Of Nestle?
Nestle has acquired many well-known food and confection companies. The following are some of its most significant acquisitions:
- Ralston Purina in 2001 for $10.3 billion
- Gerber in 2007 for $5.5 billion
- Altrium Innovations in 2017 for $2.3 billion
- Freshly in the year 2020, for $1.5 billion
- Stouffer’s in 1973 for $105 million
- Rowntree Mackintosh Confectionary in 1988
- Libby’s in 1970
- Maggi in 1947
Organizational History of Nestlé
Founding and Early Years
Nestlé’s beginnings can be traced back to the 1860s in Switzerland, with the formation of two separate entities.
The Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company was founded by Charles and George Page, while Henri Nestlé developed a milk-based food for babies called Farine Lactée. Both companies grew quickly, and their products started to overlap.
Merger and Formation of Nestlé
In 1905, the two businesses decided to join forces after years of competition and similarity in products. They merged to form the Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, later simplifying the name to Nestlé.
Growth and Expansion in the 20th Century
Throughout the 1900s, Nestlé embarked on a journey of global expansion. The company diversified its product lines, adding chocolates, beverages, frozen foods, and more.
Strategic acquisitions played a key role in this growth, helping Nestlé become a household name around the world.
Focus on Sustainability and Health
In the modern era, Nestlé has shifted its focus towards sustainability, nutrition, and health. Initiatives like the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Nestlé (SAIN) reflect this commitment.
Nestlé also adopted the Creating Shared Value approach, aiming to create benefits for shareholders and society alike. These efforts showcase Nestlé’s dedication to being more than just a global food and beverage provider, aligning its goals with broader societal values.
How Much Does It Cost To Open A Nestle Franchise?
To own the Nestle franchise, the company requires an initial franchise fee of $18,750 – $37,500 and an initial investment of $145,500 – $585,800.
The royalty fee will be 6%, and the ad royalty fee will be 1.5%.
What Are The Controversies of Nestle?
Nestle being the world’s largest food company, is not without its controversies. The most famous involves their baby formula scandal.
Here are some of its most popular scandals:
1. Slave And Child Labor
This is a sad reality of the chocolate industry. Many big brands in this industry have connections to unethical labor like human trafficking and child labor.
This happens because the big players in the chocolate industry source their cocoa from the frame in West Africa, and these farms have laborers who work for unlimited hours but at a meager wage.
Nestle and other companies in the chocolate industry simply turn a blind eye to this issue because the business is taking place on third-party farms, and most of the time, the company doesn’t even know the source of its supply.
2. Water Bottle Issues
Have you ever tasted ‘Pure Life’? Yes, it’s a product of Nestle. The largest water bottler in the world- Nestle, sources its high-quality water from developing communities or country and leave them with filthy and non-potable water.
During the time of brutal droughts in 2015 in California, when even Starbucks announced that it would be moving its bottling operation outside of California to ensure plenty of water for everyone in California.
However, the giant Nestle didn’t even budge, and when the Nestle CEO was asked if they would also consider doing the same, he responded, “Absolutely not. In fact, if I could increase it, I would.”
Also, when these springs are not handy, Nestle just bottles up the municipal water. So, you might be drinking the exact same thing which you’d get from the faucet.
3. Baby Formula Scandal
The baby formula scandal is the most brutal of all time. Nestle marketed its baby formula in developing countries back in the 70s.
The company claimed that their baby formula is a necessary supplement to breastmilk, and it provides some vital nutrients that the breastmilk couldn’t.
Nestle also made salespeople dressed as nurses to sell their baby formula to uneducated women in the community. Moreover, the formula needed to be mixed with water, and most of the water in developing countries was contaminated.
This caused the babies to get sick and eventually die. This also resulted in a decreased supply of breastmilk in the mothers, and they would have to rely on unhealthy baby formula and contaminated water.
Conclusion
Nestle is a Swiss multinational food and drinks conglomerate. The products of Nestle are sold from well-known Dollar General stores to nearly any store.
About 29 of the company’s brands have annual sales of over 1 million, which includes Nespresso, Maggi, Nescafe, Kit Kat, Smarties, and Vittel.
However, there is no doubt that this giant brand is profitable, but it also has many controversies, which are pure evil.
We hope by reading this article, you got the idea of who owns Nestle and what are the brutal controversies of the company.
FAQs
How many food companies does Nestle Own?
Nestle currently owns over 2000 brands selling everything from chocolate to cosmetics and frozen entrees.
What is the networth of Nestle?
Nestle has a net worth of $312.86 billion. Its market capital has decreased by -2.73% in one year.
Is Nestle Fortune 500 company?
Yes, Nestle is a Fortune 500 company.