By KYIV. Nov 2 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) has added the Swiss corporation Nestle to the list of international sponsors of the war, due to the fact that it continues to operate in Russia, supply goods and expand its Russian production base, the agency’s press service has reported.
As NACP reported on Thursday, the company is one of the largest food producers in the world, doing business in 187 countries. It has more than 2,000 brands around the world, including such well-known ones as KitKat, Nescafé, Nesquik, Nestea and others.
“Despite the fact that profits from the Russian market account for only a little more than 2% of Nestle’s entire activity, the company has not yet decided to leave the market of the terrorist state. Nestle continues to operate in Russia, supply goods to the aggressor and expand its Russian production base. This became the basis for including the company in the list of international sponsors of the war,” NACP said in a statement.
According to the report, as of the beginning of 2022, the Swiss company had seven factories in Russia. Nestle employs more than 7,000 employees in Russia. In the Russian Federation, Nestle is represented through Nestle Russia LLC. It paid taxes on more than $25 million in 2021. However, Nestle has not published data on its income and taxes paid for 2022.
NACP said that in April 2023, the management of Nestlé Russia LLC applied to the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation with a request to take the necessary measures to limit open access to the results of operations and financial statements of the company’s subsidiaries contained in the state financial reporting information resource. The purpose of such a step is probably to avoid the imposition of sanctions on Nestle subsidiaries, the agency admitted.
In addition, in 2022, Nestle imported semi-finished products and raw materials to Russia for $374 million, and in the first nine months of 2023 for $271 million.
“After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the company announced the suspension of exports and imports to Russia, with the exception of essential goods. However, the shelves of Russian stores are still overflowing with their products. Among the available products: Bystrov breakfasts, Maggi soups and bouillon cubes, Purina pet food, chocolate bars, Nespresso coffee,” NACP said.
In addition, in October 2022, the company, under the guise of powdered milk formula, imported technical equipment into Russia, as evidenced by the court proceedings of the Moscow Arbitration Court No. A40-24044/2023. That is, the company imports not only raw materials for basic goods, but also tries to secretly send technological equipment to Russia to develop its own business.
“History has taught the Swiss corporation Nestle nothing. Even during the Second World War, the company worked on two fronts, supplying its products to dry rations of the German army and at the same time exporting them to the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition. By remaining in Russia, Nestle once again shows the whole world that that it is normal to cooperate with the aggressor. And it demonstrates to Russia itself that it is still integrated into world processes, despite war crimes and the murders of thousands of Ukrainians,” NACP said.
Nestle produces instant coffee, mineral waters, chocolate, ice cream, dairy products, baby food, pet food and other products. Worldwide, the company’s product line includes more than 2,000 brands – from legendary and world-famous to popular local brands. Its major brands are KitKat, Nescafé, Nesquik, Nestea and others.
