Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is criticizing Nestlé for the Swiss company’s ongoing relationship with Russia.
“’Good food, good life.’ This is Nestlé’s slogan. Your company that refuses to leave Russia,” Zelensky said last Saturday during a speech to the people of Switzerland.
“Even now – when there are threats from Russia to other European countries, and not just to us. When there is even nuclear blackmail from Russia.”
Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company and maker of Gerber, KitKat and Dreyer’s ice cream, defended itself by pointing out that it has made radical changes since Russia invaded Ukraine.
“We have significantly reduced activities in Russia: we have stopped all imports and exports from Russia, except essential products,” a Nestlé spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. “We no longer make investments or advertise our products. We make no profit from our remaining activities.”
Nestlé employs more than 7,000 workers in Russia, most of whom are local, the company said earlier.
“The fact that we, like other food companies, provide important food to the population does not mean that we simply continue as before,” said Nestlé.
“We are still one of the few active food companies in Ukraine and sometimes we even manage to distribute food in Kharkiv”, Ukraine’s second-largest city, currently under siege.
The company announced on March 11 that it had suspended exports of its products from Russia, except essential items such as baby food. Nestlé also said it stopped importing Nespresso and other products into Russia, except essential goods, including baby food, cereal, bespoke nutrition and therapeutic pet food.
Nestlé said at the time that it was “shocked and deeply saddened by the invasion of Ukraine” and that the company stood with the international community calling for peace and the restoration of security and stability.
Last week, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal criticized Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider for the company’s continued presence in Russia.
“Unfortunately, he shows no understanding,” Shmyhal wrote on Twitter after saying he had spoken with the Nestlé CEO.
“Paying taxes to the budget of a terrorist country means killing helpless children and mothers. I hope Nestlé changes its mind soon.”
Source: CNN Brasil
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