Nestlé Sees India Entering Its Global Top Five

India is on track to become one of Nestlé SA’s five largest markets globally, with the Swiss food and beverage major expecting the country to sustain growth above the group average and attract investments above the group average. Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil said the company sees the top-five position as a near-term opportunity rather than something that will take decades.

India is already among Nestlé’s top 10 markets by topline contribution and was the company’s highest-performing market in the first half of 2026. Navratil said growth is expected to be led by volumes and supported by higher investment. Nestlé had announced a ₹5,000 crore investment programme for India in 2022, while the company currently operates nine manufacturing facilities in the country and has a 10th plant under development in Odisha.

The company cited India’s expanding consumer base, urbanisation, growing middle class and extensive distribution network as key reasons for its confidence in the market. Beyond domestic consumption, Nestlé is also looking to make India a larger manufacturing and export hub; Nestlé India currently exports products to around 30 countries, but the company sees scope to expand both the number of markets and export volumes.

The company reported high double-digit growth in India in the June quarter, which it described as very strong and said had led growth in its Asia, Oceania and Africa zone. Nestlé’s India strategy spans both value and premium segments, with a focus on expanding consumption, premiumisation, affordability and value across different income groups. The company is also prioritising portfolio expansion, efficiency improvements, performance culture and real internal growth, while maintaining a long-term focus on product quality and consumer acceptance.

For India’s food and dairy ecosystem, the development is significant because greater investment, manufacturing capacity, exports and premiumisation by a global food major could create further opportunities across processing, supply chains, ingredients and value-added food categories. (financialexpress.com)

Source: Dairynews7x7 27 Aug, 2026 Read full article here

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