Nestle declared international war sponsor in Ukraine
The Swiss corporation Nestle has been designated as an international sponsor of war by Ukraine’s national agency on corruption prevention, or NAZK, since it continues to operate in Russia, supplying goods to the aggressor and expanding its Russian production base.
The list of international sponsors of war is a reputational tool. The designated companies are also included in the World-Check database, which keeps track of high-risk individuals and organisations and is used globally to identify and manage financial, regulatory and reputational risks.
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"History has taught the Swiss corporation Nestle nothing. Back during World War II, the company worked on two fronts, supplying its products to the German army's dry rations and simultaneously exporting them to the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition," NAZK said in a statement.
While profits in Russia account for slightly more than two percent of Nestle's business, it is yet to leave the Russian market, NAZK added.
Nestle earlier said it would not pull out of Russia completely because it needs to "provide the Russian population with basic necessities" as well as take care of its 7,000 Russian employees.
Nestle imported USD 374 million worth of semi-finished products and raw materials to Russia in 2022, and USD 271 million in the first nine months of this year.
After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Swiss company announced that it would stop exports and imports to Russia except for essential goods. However, Russian continue to buy Nestle products, including Bystrow breakfasts, Maggi soups and broth cubes, Purina pet food, chocolate bars, and Nespresso coffee.
In addition, last October 2022, Nestle imported technical equipment to Russia under the guise of milk powder.
"By staying in Russia, Nestle is once again showing the world that it is normal to cooperate with the aggressor. And it demonstrates to Russia itself that it is still integrated into global processes, despite war crimes and the murder of thousands of Ukrainians," NAZK said.
