Nestlé denies ‘any impact’ from Catalonia’s political situation

Food and drink company Nestlé says it has not noticed “any impact” from Catalonia’s political situation and denies receiving any pressure to move its HQ outside the country. What’s more, the head of Nestlé Spain, Laurent Dereux, in the firm’s annual meeting with the press on Wednesday, said that the plant in Reus, in southern Catalonia, was a large part of the company’s plans for the future.

Dereux said that in the near future the firm would prioritize the launch of organic products in Spain, with a new ‘bio’ range expected to account for 10 to 15% of the company’s turnover over the next five years. According to the Nestlé head, along with the firm’s plants in Asturias and Cáceres, the factory in Reus will produce some 65% of the new products. Dereux also said that the Reus plant still has plenty of “capacity to grow”.

Dereux also announced "good news" for the Reus factory, which employs some 70 people, in the shape of an agreement with Starbucks to sell the firm’s products in the chain’s coffee shops. According to Dereux, roasted coffee to be sold in Starbucks will be produced in the Catalan plant, the only factory in Spain that will produce this type of coffee. Dereux also announced that the firm would begin to produce organic soluble coffee and capsules.

Organic products currently only make up some 2% of the group’s turnover in Spain, but the spokesman said that with the launch of new product ranges and innovations, the company hoped that healthy products would account for up to 40% of turnover in five years’ time. As for turnover in 2018, Dereux said the company hoped to match last year’s sales and improve exports.