Progress Report: Nestle Creates Shared Value in the U.S.
Nestl in the United States released its 2011 Creating Shared Value report detailing new accomplishments in the areas of nutrition, sustainable business practices, and economic and community development.
“Among the ways Nestl creates shared value are by offering high-quality products, working to improve our environmental efficiency, providing stable jobs that contribute to our economic vitality, and remaining actively involved in our communities,” says Heidi Paul, vice president, Corporate Affairs, Nestl Waters North America.
Creating Shared Value is Nestl's fundamental business strategy based on the belief that for a business to prosper in the long-term, it must create value for society as well as for shareholders. In the United States, Nestl’s largest market, the company creates value by providing quality products supported by an expertise in nutrition, health and wellness.
Nestl in the United States consists of five main businesses: Nestl USA, Nestl Purina PetCare Company, Nestl Waters North America, Nestl Nutrition and Nestl Professional. In 2011, its sales totaled $24 billion and the company now boasts seven billion-dollar brands in the United States. This year, Coffee-mate joins Stouffer’s, Lean Cuisine, DiGiorno, Nestl PureLife, Gerber and Friskies as billion dollar brands.
Below are some highlights of the latest Nestl in the United States’ annual Creating Shared Value report.
Good Food, Good Life: A Focus on Nutrition
Creating Shared Value for Sustainable Business Practices
Creating Shared Value in its Communities
“Among the ways Nestl creates shared value are by offering high-quality products, working to improve our environmental efficiency, providing stable jobs that contribute to our economic vitality, and remaining actively involved in our communities,” says Heidi Paul, vice president, Corporate Affairs, Nestl Waters North America.
Creating Shared Value is Nestl's fundamental business strategy based on the belief that for a business to prosper in the long-term, it must create value for society as well as for shareholders. In the United States, Nestl’s largest market, the company creates value by providing quality products supported by an expertise in nutrition, health and wellness.
Nestl in the United States consists of five main businesses: Nestl USA, Nestl Purina PetCare Company, Nestl Waters North America, Nestl Nutrition and Nestl Professional. In 2011, its sales totaled $24 billion and the company now boasts seven billion-dollar brands in the United States. This year, Coffee-mate joins Stouffer’s, Lean Cuisine, DiGiorno, Nestl PureLife, Gerber and Friskies as billion dollar brands.
Below are some highlights of the latest Nestl in the United States’ annual Creating Shared Value report.
Good Food, Good Life: A Focus on Nutrition
- In 2011, Nestl began operations with Nestl Health Science S.A. and the Nestl Institute of Health Sciences to pioneer science-based nutritional solutions with a focus on personalized healthcare. In May, the company acquired Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a leading U.S. gastrointestinal diagnostics company based in San Diego, CA.
- Nestl is committed to reducing sodium in many of its product lines. Stouffer’s is currently undergoing gradual recipe changes to decrease sodium by another 10 percent from earlier reductions without affecting taste.
- New initiatives from brands such as Skinny Cow, for example, offer a range of low-calorie candy snacks. Skinny Cow Confections deliver significantly lower levels of calories, total and saturated fat and added sugar than similar regular chocolate confections while still serving up satisfying portion sizes.
Creating Shared Value for Sustainable Business Practices
- Nestl in the United States has reduced water and energy use on a production volume basis in 2011. Some highlights include:
- Nestl Purina reduced annual water use by more than 46 million gallons.
- Nestl USA launched a Zero Waste to Landfill initiative. Total waste diverted from landfills to more beneficial uses — like animal feeding, composting and recycling — improved to 80 percent from 74 percent the prior year.
- Nestl Waters North America continued efforts to decrease greenhouse gas emissions; now down 38 percent since 2008.
- The Laurel, MD ice cream facility has met the “ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry” and received recognition for achieving an 11.3 percent reduction in energy intensity.
- Recovered wastewater from the Madison, Fla., Nestl Pure Life factory is used to spray irrigate neighboring farm agricultural fields, potentially saving 55 million gallons of water from being withdrawn from the local aquifer.
Creating Shared Value in its Communities
- Nestl in the United States has partnered with the National Education Association to launch Healthy Steps for Healthy Lives based on MyPlate, the USDA’s new generation food icon. This program provides a variety of fun, easy-to-use instructional activities that teach K-3 students about nutrition and being healthy.
- Nestl Waters North America partnered with Keep America Beautiful to launch Recycle-Bowl, the first nationwide recycling competition for elementary, middle and high school students.
- AmeriCares recognized employees of Nestl Waters North America for donating more than one million bottles of water to disaster survivors across the United States in 2011.