Nestle doesn’t just offer new products but new solutions
View(s):On the back of celebrating 110 years in Sri Lanka and 150 years worldwide this year, Nestle says that they aim to place a strong priority on understanding changing consumer needs and are innovating and renovating products in line with the company’s ambition to be a leading ‘Nutrition, Health and Wellness’ company. ”Our Nespray milk powder for example has just been reformulated with Opti-Start – a unique formula of micronutrients, vitamins and minerals developed by Nestlé’s global R and D network to offer high nutritive value and help combat micronutrient deficiencies in Sri Lanka. It offers the goodness of Sri Lankan milk and is fortified with Iron. More products with optimised nutritional profiles and fortified with essential micronutrients will be launched this year,” Shivani Hegde, Nestle Lanka CEO told the Business Times. According to her Nestle is always open to new opportunities that are in accordance with consumers’ needs and their vision to enhance the quality of life of the people of Sri Lanka.
“We will continue to align our resources behind our strongest ideas, products and brands. Strategic portfolio management has been, and will be integral to our success,” she says. Nestle delivered Rs. 35.9 billion in sales and a growth of 9 per cent for the full year ending 31 December 2015, with sales of Rs. 8.8 billion and a growth of 10.1 per cent for Q4. The company posted a full year profit after tax of Rs. 4.1 billion, supported by strategic portfolio optimisation and focus on driving efficiencies across the value chain. Ms. Hedge says that Nestle doesn’t just offer new products but new solutions as well. “We have just launched a new vending machine and beverage for our out-of-home customers, through Nestle Professional, which caters to restaurants, hotels and food chains. Nestle Coolpro is Sri Lanka’s first ever proprietary beverage dispenser made with advanced smart technology, and will initially offer a trendy, chilled, refreshing beverage ‘Nestle Sjora’, made from a delicious flavour fusion that combines mango, peach and milk.
Having contributed Rs. 3.6 billion as payment for fresh milk to almost 20,000 local dairy farmers last year, the company has plans to expand its milk procurement network in the North this year and develop the potential of the region, which accounts for 22 per cent of the country’s cattle. “We have opened a new milk chilling centre in the North-Eastern town of Vaddakkachchi, which will help farmers keep their milk fresh at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. Previously, facilities for storing fresh milk in the area were inadequate; resulting in low quality and wastage,” Ms. Hedge says. She says that using global R&D expertise the company is working to ensure that its products offer a superior nutritional profile in their respective categories. “Our products are fortified with essential micronutrients and other vitamins and minerals, and supplemented with vegetables and other nutritional ingredients as relevant.”