Nestlé future forecast slit after missing nine months sales

By Money Times

Oct 19, 2015 10:14 PM EDT

Nestlé's sales from Asia, Oceania and Africa (AOA) region went down 3% and the company whose brands range from Nescafe and KitKat to Perrier has less sales growth forecast for 2015 to around 4.5%.  This is way back below its broader objective of 5 to 6% growth in the succeeding years.

Barclay analysts said that the statement had rekindled an argument around Nestlé's capability to fix its surfacing market business, adding these operations been "a disappointment for several quarters in a row".

During the previous session, Nestlé's shares had risen to a near two-month high but went down 2.5% at 73.25 Swiss francs by 12:35 GMT (8:35 ET).  A lot of consumer goods companies have experienced sluggish global economies and the cooling of once-hot markets like China and Brazil.  Nestlé is confronting particular problems in Asia's largest markets such as China and most specifically India, Reuters reported.

There has been a recall of Maggi noodles in India that inhibit the sales.  In China, which is the second biggest market of Nestlé after United States yielded its product plans had yet to bear fruit.

"There are things that we need to do better (in China), even if you set aside the macroeconomic situation," said Wan Ling Martello, recently named head of the AOA having previously been chief financial officer. "We are a little behind in terms of innovation."

One example of its planned product innovations is the re-launching of Yinlu peanut milk in the first quarter of 2016.  It was last February when the updating of the brand was discussed to satisfy consumers who preferred fewer additives and alternative ingredients.

In June, Indian regulators ordered to put a stop on the popular noodles.  This is due to the findings that the said noodles contain high levels of lead that the body can allow to take, according to the report of FT.com.

Paul Bulcke, chief executive, put the blame on "exceptional events" including a temporary nationwide ban on its Maggi instant noodle products in India, and a rebate adjustment in Nestlé Skin Health.

Nestlé opposed the findings and won a victory to overrule the Maggi ban in August.  However, they were to spend almost Rs4.5 billion ($70 million) due to a national recall of 350 million noodle packets.

Mr. Bulcke had seen strong performance in Europe, smooth progress in Latin America and noticeable improvement in North America because of the large demand in frozen goods like Lean Cuisine and Stouffer's, whereas  China is showing slow recovery.

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