nestle pricing strategy case study

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The moment you make a mistake in pricing, you're eating into your reputation or your profits.”

- Katharine Paine

In 2019, Nestle earned half of its worldwide sales in America. It had a cumulative revenue of about 92.6 billion Swiss Francs that year. How was Nestle able to generate that much revenue ? What is their pricing strategy? Let’s find out!

Case Study on Nestle

Nestle was founded in Switzerland by Heinrich Nestle in 1866. Nestle is one of the oldest multinational companies. From the early stages, Nestle wanted to take advantage of growth opportunities in different countries. In 1905, it merged with Anglo-Swiss condensed milk, broadening its product range to include infant formulas and condensed milk. Nestle currently has 447 factories, with operations in 189 countries.

In this case study, we will focus on Nestle's pricing strategies. Pricing is the most important element for maximising revenues. According to Harvard studies, if there is a 1% improvement in pricing, it leads to an 11% increase in profits (approx.). If the pricing structure is incorrect, the business loses profit with each transaction made. Therefore, correct pricing is critical.

Nestle is a multinational brand with a present net worth of about $270 billion. The success that the brand has is due to its pricing strategy. The revenue of Nestle is continuously growing, this depicts the successful identification and placement of its products in the market. Generally speaking, Nestle’s products are pricier in comparison to the products of the retailing brand.

Nestle’s pricing strategy is fairly distinctive in contrast with other brands. It merely hinges on recognition which is attributed to the apparent quality of the product. Based on this quality and the attitude of the customers, Nestle assesses the pricing strategy it wants to implement.

Nestle’s pricing strategies

Here are some of the strategies implemented by Nestle in order to achieve its targets and goals.

Nestle Price skimming

Price skimming is a pricing strategy in which a company charges a high price initially and lowers it over time.

Nestle uses price skimming for some of its products when it enters the market of a country.

Nestle believed that the target consumers for Nescafe coffee were upper-middle-class consumers. Later, with the success of this approach and strategy, they lowered the prices and targeted the middle class.

Inexpensive pricing strategy

Amongst its wide range of brands, Nestle offers a fair price for quite a few of its brands and products. Pricing is based on market segmentation . Market segments generally involve a target audience.

Market segmentation is the practice to divide the target market into subgroups. It forms subsets depending on needs, psychographic, behavioral, and demographic criteria.

If Nestle is trying to target the mass market, then they implement an inexpensive pricing strategy instead of an expensive one.

This happened in the case of Nestle's Maggi noodles. It is considered affordable in comparison to other products of Nestle. However, if the price of Maggi is compared globally with other noodle brands, then it can be perceived as a little pricey.

Bundle price strategy

With time Nestle has understood that people do not usually do their groceries every day, instead, they prefer purchasing in bundles. Therefore, Nestle implemented the bundle packs approach.

Initially, Maggi was sold in a single pack but later on, Nestle offered a 16 pack which eventually increased the sales.

Penetration pricing strategy

Penetration pricing is a pricing strategy that an organisation uses to offer new products at lower prices in an attempt to attract more customers away from rivals.

When Nestle introduced a new flavor of Maggi instant noodles, they were sold at a low price of £2.25 to entice new customers. Nestle’s strategy was to lure more customers away from its rivals which offered alike flavors priced at £3.25. Nonetheless, when Nestle gained a greater customer base they increased the price to £3.

Psychological pricing strategy

Psychological pricing facilitates in creating a positive psychological influence on the consumer and attracts them to buy the product.

Nestle Aero bliss was sold for £8.99 instead of £9. This pricing strategy will have a positive psychological impact on the consumer and will encourage them to purchase the product.

Stock keeping units

Nestle does not want to lose any customers, so it has diverse pricing for every stock-keeping unit, allowing it to reach a bigger consumer base. From Maggi noodles to Cereals, Nestle has it all covered, whereby the company offers different sizes of packs.

Nestle’s cereal is slightly pricey in comparison to other brands. Hence, it started offering mini pouches for everyday consumption. This has made the pouches a lot cheaper than larger packs, hence allowing different segments of customers to buy Nestle’s products.

Discounts offered

Nestle offers discounts in various retail stores. Nestle products are often bundled and come with a 5% or 10% discount.

Coffee and creamer, as a bundle, is cheaper than buying the two items separately.

Competitive pricing strategy

Another general approach that Nestle follows is analyzing the pricing strategies of its rivals. Nestle has several brands and for every brand, it has separate departments that assess the pricing strategies of its rivals. Besides that, it examines the marketing style, sales, and innovation of rivals. The competitive pricing strategy assists in achieving Nestle's desired position as they acknowledge the preferences of the consumers.

Global pricing strategies of Nestle

Globally, Nestle attempts to ensure the pricing strategies that will assist it in achieving its financial objectives . These strategies typically involve the penetration and skimming strategy. The price of Nestle products automatically rises when they are exported to other regions. Alternatively, it also implements price skimming, as it sets a higher price at the start and then ultimately reduces the price based on the customer demand.

Over the years, Nestle has become one of the leading parent brands with successful divisions under its name. What has made Nestle successful with consumers is that it adapts to different pricing strategies according to the regions its selling and according to the product offered. It gives preference to the demands of its customers and tries to provide the best quality products at different price ranges so that all segments of consumers are able to afford its products, hence, increasing the sales and profits for the company.

Pricing Strategy of Nestle Company - Key takeaways

Nestle was founded in Switzerland by Heinrich Nestle in 1866.

Heinrich originally created Nestle for distributing milk food for newborns and found that it could be created from powdered milk, sugar, and other natural food.

Nestle is a multinational brand with a present net worth of about $270 billion. The success that the brand has is due to its pricing strategy.

Nestle’s pricing strategy is fairly distinctive in contrast with other brands.

Nestle uses various pricing strategies including price skimming, inexpensive and bundles pricing strategy, penetration pricing strategy, stock keeping units, psychological pricing strategy, discounts, and competitive pricing strategy.

Howandwhat, https://howandwhat.net/marketing-mix-nestle/

The Strategy Watch, https://www.thestrategywatch.com/pricing-strategy-nestle/

Price intelligently, https://www.priceintelligently.com/blog/bid/182007/6-must-read-pricing-strategy-quotes

StuDocu, https://www.studocu.com/my/document/tunku-abdul-rahman-university-college/pricing strategy/bbdt3193-pricing-strategy-for-the-company-nestle/18242524

Studymode, https://www.studymode.com/essays/Nestle-Pricing-Strategy-1058790.html

Iide, https://iide.co/case-studies/nestle-marketing-strategy/

Iide, https://iide.co/case-studies/marketing-mix-of-nestle/

Frequently Asked Questions about Pricing Strategy of Nestle Company

--> what are the strategies of nestle company, --> what are the 5 pricing strategies.

Five major pricing strategies including price skimming, inexpensive and bundles pricing strategy, penetration pricing strategy, psychological pricing strategy, and discounts.

Who founded Nestle?

Heinrich Nestle

When was Nestle founded?

How did Nestle start?

Heinrich created Nestle for distributing milk food for newborns and found that it could be created from powdered milk, sugar, and baked food.

With which company did Nestle merge?

In 1905, it merged with Anglo-Swiss condensed milk, hence making the product range broader with infant formulas and condensed milk.

What is price skimming?

How did Nestle implement price skimming?

Nestle’s brand ‘Nescafe’ was depicted as a product of target segment of the upper-class. Later, with the success of this approach and strategy, they lowered the prices and targeted the upper-middle class.

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The Strategy Watch

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Pricing Strategy of Nestle (7 Strategies)

Nestle is a Swiss multinational brand that has a current net worth of around $270 billion. Its successful pricing strategy has helped the brand reach this state. Their revenue is constantly growing which shows that the company knows how to place its products in the market. In general, Nestle’s products are more on the pricier side compared to the products of the retailing brand.

Product Price Ranges

Nestle has around 2000 brands under it which consist of a variety of product range. Among them, some of them are the star of the market. Some of the products are globally famous, some, on the other hand, are more familiar in the local market. Nestle’s powder and liquid products are the highest selling products. Nestle’s liquid beverages have a sale of over $2.79 billion. Their liquid items such as Nescafé Original Decaff, Nescafé Gold Decaff, Nescafé Dolce Gusto, etc. are globally famous. Nestle’s powder milk is also renowned and globally sold. Nestle has mostly products for every consumer.

Pricing Strategies of Nestle

Nestle’s pricing strategy is quite unique than the other brands. It solely depends on recognition which is commonly known as the product’s perceived quality. Perceived quality means that consumers get to touch and feel the quality of the products. Depending on the quality and consumer’s approach towards it, Nestle decides which pricing strategy they want to take.

Affordable Pricing Strategy

Among the 2000 brands, for some Nestle chooses to offer a more affordable price. It entirely depends on their market segment. Now market segment usually consists of the target audience. For example, if Nestle’s target consumers are the mass audience, then they must go for an affordable pricing strategy rather than an expensive one. Which happened in the case of Maggi. It is more on the affordable side, compared to Nestle’s other products. But then again, if you globally compare Maggi’s pricing with other noodles brands, then it is a little expensive. For different regions, Nestle chooses different prices.

Bundle Pricing

Over time Nestle has realized that people don’t do groceries every single day. They prefer buying in bundles. Hence, Nestle has come up with bundle packs. This includes a Maggi pack of 16. At first, Maggi used to come in one single pack. After Nestle has introduced its 16 pack offer, the sales have automatically increased.

Stock Keeping Units

Nestle does not want to let go of any consumers. Hence, Nestle has different prices for each stock-keeping unit. This allows the brand to reach a larger consumer base. For example, starting from Maggi to Cereal, Nestle has it all. It also provides different pack sizes. For instance, Nestle’s cereal is a little expensive than the other brands. Therefore, the brand has come up with mini pouches for day-to-day intakes. These pouches are way cheaper than the bigger pack which allows the consumers to purchase Nestle’s products.

Discounts and Offers

Nestle provides a lot of discounts in retail stores such as Walmart, Costco, Target, etc. You’ll often find 5% off, 10% off in their products. Some of the products come in bundles. For example, you will often see a coffee coming with a creamer. In most cases, they give a few dollars off in these bundles.

Competitive Pricing

  Another common approach that Nestle takes is analyzing competitors’ pricing strategies. Nestle has a lot of brands. For each brand, they have designated departments that analyze all the competitor’s pricing strategies. Along with that it also observes competitors’ marketing style, product innovation, sales records, etc. Competitive pricing strategy helps them achieve the desired place as they already get the idea of what the consumers prefer.

Demand is another important factor when it comes to choosing the pricing strategy of any product. Just like all the other brands, Nestle also looks out for demand at the very beginning. Before even the production of any new good. As it is established that demand and price have an inverse relationship as per the theories of economics. This usually goes in a cycle. So if a demand for a certain product is higher, then its price will also increase. For instance, Nestle’s Cerelac is quite a in demand globally. As a result, the price of their Cerelac is higher than the other products.

On the other hand, when price increases beyond the limit of people’s affordability, the demand automatically decreases. When this happens, Nestle tries to provide discounts and give more lucrative offers to the consumers to keep them captivated.

Premium Pricing

Nestle often has multiple options in one product line. This is called line pricing. For instance, Nestle has two ranges of coffee. A jar of Nestle’s 7 oz instant coffee is around $7.78. This is on the more affordable side. On the other hand, it also has a premium side called the “Nescafe Gold” which costs around $15.80 for a jar of 7 oz.

Nestle’s Global Pricing Strategy

Globally Nestle tries to follow a pricing strategy that will help them achieve their financial goals. These strategies usually include the penetration strategy and the skimming strategy. When Nestle’s products are exported from one region to another, it’s pricing automatically increases. On the other hand, the company also does price skimming, which means that at the beginning it sets a higher price and eventually it decreases the price depending on the demand of the consumers.

Pricing Strategies Applied by the Competitors

Some of Nestle’s biggest competitors currently in the market are Danone, PepsiCo, Unilever, etc. all of the brands have their own unique strategies. Most of these brands follow the competitive pricing strategy, penetration pricing strategy and skimming pricing strategy. All of these strategies are also preferred by Nestle.

Recommendations

Nestle can go for a more flexible pricing strategy. They can observe and analyze consumer behavior and then decide on a pricing strategy for their products. Instead of sticking to one strict price range, they can be more flexible towards their pricing. Alongside that, they can also give holiday offers and come with innovative holiday editions. These editions can be sold at a higher price which will further attract consumers.

Nishat Tarannum Mridula is a contributing writer at The Strategy Watch . She has been contributing for last two years.

Nishat is currently studying at the University of Dhaka . Even though her major is in Banking, she enjoys writing on diverse topics, starting from appliances to blogposts. She is in the middle of completing her BBA from University of Dhaka. Alongside that, she writes different types of business articles for The Strategy Watch .

• Case Study of Nestle

In this article you will learn about Nestle case study which includes different types of Pricing Strategies that Nestle has used.

In 2019, America accounted for 50% of Nestle’s global sales. In that year, it earned a total of around 92.6 billion Swiss francs.

→ How did Nestle manage to make that much money?

→ What was their price strategy?

Table of Contents

Nestle case study

Heinrich Nestle established Nestle in Switzerland in 1866. One of the first international corporations is Nestle. Nestle set out to seize development prospects in several nations right from the start. It joined with Anglo-Swiss condensed milk in 1905, expanding its product line to include condensed milk and infant formula. With operations in 189 nations, Nestle now has 447 plants.

Products offered by Nestle

Breakfast cereals, beverages, dairy, chocolates, nutritious foods and food services are all offered by Nestle.

Popular food items from Nestle that are available in India include Kit Kat, Maggi, Milkmaid, Polo, and Nescafe.

This renowned company has been using its knowledge of Health, Nutrition, and Wellness for more than 150 years to make its clients’ lives healthier and happier.

They do, however, believe that what works now might not tomorrow.

In order to uncover more ways to experiment with foods, nutrition, and beverages, they keep exploring and concentrating on pushing the boundaries.

Nestle unlocks the potential of food to raise everyone’s standard of living, not only now but for future generations.

The brand focuses on increasing consumer satisfaction and enjoyment, enabling better health, and making the greatest nutrition accessible to everyone.

In addition to this, the company explores novel approaches to safeguard and enhance natural resources.

Competitors of Nestle: A Case Study

Carnation, Kit Kat, Nestle-water, and Stouffers are just a few of the well-known consumer brands owned by Nestle.

The corporation is a major player in the global food and beverage market because thirty of its brands had earnings of more than $1 billion in 2010.

Nestle is one of the food and beverage industry’s most geographically diverse corporations, with about 42% of its sales occurring in North America. It puts it in a position that gives it an advantage over its competitors.

Leading economies including the United States and Europe have significant market shares where its brands are well-established.

Nestle faces significant competition from Danone and Unilever. Like Nestle, these two are industry titans in the food and beverage sector.

Due to its rapid sales in the food and beverage sector, particularly ice cream, frozen food, tea-based beverages, and cookery items, Unilever reported an increase in annual profits of almost 26% in 2010.

Danone, on the other hand, reported a 38 percent increase as a result of rising stock prices. Additionally, the surge in earnings was boosted by an increase in its yoghurt sales.

Nestle Handles, on the other hand, positioned itself in the market by implementing a new accounting technique that helped to drive down its cost of sales.

Discounts, allowances, and promotions for the company’s merchants could potentially be included in sales profits rather than the marketing line.

Even though Nestle’s sales were down for a year, their pricing strategy enabled them to compete with their counterparts, which helped them become a well-known manufacturer despite the intense competition.

Nestle, the most well-known food maker in the world, competes fiercely with Unilever.

With offices in 160 nations and about 1,49,000 employees, Unilever houses its food, home, and personal care divisions in London.

Unilever has a market share of about 8.6% in the Western European ready meals industry, which places it second, 0.3 points behind the renowned Nestle, as the corporation works hard to outperform Nestle in terms of the quality of their product.

Target Market of Nestle

The distinctive feature of Nestle is that it provides a broad selection of products that cater to audiences of all ages, from 2-year-olds to working adults.

Here is a list of Nestle’s target market and the products that are offered in each segment.

→Working Professionals

Everyone will be aware of how popular Nescafe is among working professionals, especially coffee enthusiasts.

Who doesn’t want to feel fresh?

According to Nestle, Nescafe is the only coffee that will keep professionals alert throughout the day.

Parents totally trust Nestle’s “Caregrow” product when it comes to children. Cereals are included in the product to keep young children healthy.

→General Audiences

For the broader public, Nestle offers a number of additional items like KitKat, Milkmaid, and Maggi.

Nestle has created products with something for everyone in mind. We’ll go into how Nestle has marketed itself and its goods online in the next section.

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Nestle’s strategies for Digital Marketing

You must be aware at this point that Nestle has the largest revenue of any food and beverage company in the world. 

What if, however, we said that Nestle consistently tries to be one step ahead in terms of marketing techniques and guidelines?

Regardless of whether they are offline or online, it has always concentrated on the most modern marketing techniques strategies.

You can learn how to create marketing strategies that generate a favourable response from customers by studying Nestle’s marketing strategies.

Let’s begin with the digital marketing strategies that Nestle must implement if they are to prosper as a brand.

Nestle: Partner with influential celebrities

Nescafe, a Nestle product, works with celebrities to promote their message and raise awareness of their brand.

They named Bollywood actress Disha Patani as their brand ambassador a few years ago.

Nescafe recently began a campaign called “Karne Se Hi Hona Hai,” which translates to “Only doing will make it happen,” and featured well-known content producers.

Also, they developed this campaign during the Covid Pandemic to motivate individuals and inspire them to keep striving for their goals regardless of their circumstances.

They appealed to India’s young with this campaign, encouraging them to dream, act, and succeed.

Nestle: Product localization

The process of localizing involves adjusting a company’s products for a certain market. On the numerous markets it presently manages, Nestle has invested much in localization.

Take Japan as an example, where the company’s main entry point was through chocolates infused with coffee.

Since Japan is typically a tea-drinking nation, the business created these candies to introduce children to the flavour of coffee.

When Nescafe and KitKat were added later, the rest is history.

Nestle: Co-branding

Do you know anything about Android KitKat?

Google and Nestle collaborated to create the Android KitKat operating system a few years ago.

Nestle sought to benefit from Google’s goodwill in light of a recent issue involving one of their pet products. This movie overcame the crisis and generated discussion.

Nestle has signed another agreement with Starbucks to accomplish two goals simultaneously.

First, the company started developing new products, like as roasted beans, and enhanced its reputation by learning about a variety of Starbucks Nespresso Capsules.

Did you understand how co-branding helped Nestle?

Co-branding is a fantastic way to expand your reach and enter a new market. Startups looking to build their brand or introduce a new product can profit from this marketing.

Finding businesses that complement your items and working with them to create co-branding promotional commercials might be beneficial.

Nestle: Content Marketing 

On the YouTube channels for each of its brands, Nestle has posted a lot of video content. The information includes cooking advice, educational “how-to” films, and greater insights on using the proper products.

As an illustration, the “Meri Maggi” channel has more than 530 videos and 5,71,000 subscribers.

Nestle has recognised various ways to provide essential information to its customers, despite the fact that video content is an emerging channel in its marketing strategy.

Nestle: Out-of-Home Advertising

Maggi, Milo, KitKat, and Nescafe are just a few of the Nestle brands that employ various techniques to get consumers’ attention.

Whether on benches, hoardings, or banners, Nestle’s brands have gained attention for their originality and contextual relevance.

What are the benefits of adopting OOH advertisements? First of all, most individuals understand these advertisements. They merit spreading.

Photographs can be taken online, sent to friends or family, and even discussed by marketers.

Additionally, they can inexpensively reach a large number of individuals with the aid of OTT.

Additionally, Nestle’s marketing tactics are excellent and bring in certain clients.

Nestle: Run marketing strategies that encourage connections and unite customers

The business issued a challenge to Arnaud, a regular 37-year-old man with 1,2000 Facebook connections, to catch up with them over a cup of coffee.

He therefore recorded these meetings and produced a 42-minute web video documentary from them. Arnaud and his friends had a cup of Nescafe throughout the sessions.

Social media users loved the documentary. On Facebook, it had nearly 8 million views, 63,050 likes, 4,850 comments, and 5,550 shares.

The number of admirers on Nescafe’s Facebook page increased by 400%.

The video generated excitement among viewers, who were eager to learn how to develop genuine relationships from their online friendships.

In response, it developed the “le Defi Nescafe,” a Facebook contest that gave victors the opportunity to reinvent the same experience.

More than 26,000 people submitted applications, almost 1,725 shared, and about 19,000 loved it.

Nescafe quickly rose to fame online by positioning itself as a product that fosters relationships and friendships.

Nestle’s Social Media Marketing Strategy

Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are just a few of the three major social media networks where Nestle is present.

Nestle’s Social Media Presence

Let’s examine how it operates and what Nestle does on each social media site.

Nestle’s Facebook

Nestle India has designed its Facebook. It shares posts related to what Nestle India is currently up to. It also announces its new launches, talks about its corporate social responsibility (CSR) measures, etc.

It maintains separate pages for its brands such as Maggi, Kit Kat, Nescafe, Koko Krunch, etc. which also have an huge amount of followers.

• Maggi has around 16 million followers
• Nescafe has 36 million followers
• Kit Kat has about 11 million followers

Nestle’s Instagram

• Maggi has around 53K followers
• Nescafe has 30K followers
• KitKat has about 1 million followers

Having separate social media profiles for its various brands, helps them organize marketing campaigns effectively and thus resulting in a strong brand connection with its customers.

Nestle’s Twitter

Nestle India has been maintaining its Twitter profile as a medium of communication between the company and its audience. It also solves queries related to its products by replying to every comment and mentions done by the general public on the platform.

Nestle on Twitter has maintained separate profiles for its various brands. This helps them promote their products effectively.

Nestle’s YouTube

Nestle India’s YouTube channel has about 95K subscribers. On this platform, they post all the advertisements of their brands. However, Nestle maintains the same strategy of maintaining a separate profile for its various brands.

Nestle’s Pricing Strategy

The moment you make a mistake in pricing, you’re eating into your reputation or your profits.” Katharine Paine.

The most crucial factor for increasing sales is pricing. Harvard research show that a 1% rise in pricing results in an 11% increase in profits (approx.). Every time a transaction is made and the price structure is off, the company loses money. Consequently, accurate pricing is essential.

A multinational company called Nestle currently has a net worth of around $270 billion. The brand’s price strategy is what has contributed to its success.

Nestle’s revenue is steadily increasing, which shows that its products were successfully identified and positioned in the market. In general, Nestle’s products are more expensive than those of the retailing brand.

In comparison to other brands, Nestle’s pricing strategy is very unique. It simply depends on recognition, which is linked to the product’s apparent excellence. Nestle evaluates the price plan it wishes to use based on this quality and the attitude of the customers.

Here are some of the strategies that Nestle has used to accomplish its objectives.

1- Price Skimming: Nestle

When using price skimming as a pricing strategy, a business sets its price high at first then gradually reduces it.

When Nestle enters a new market, it practices price skimming for some of its products. Upper-middle-class consumers were regarded by Nestle as the product’s target market.

Later, as a result of the effectiveness of this strategy and approach, they cut the prices and focused on the middle class.

2-Inexpensive Pricing Strategy: Nestle

Nestle has a large number of brands and a variety of products, many of which are priced fairly. Market segmentation is used to determine pricing. Target audiences are typically included in market segmentation.

The method of segmenting a market involves breaking it up into smaller sections. Depending on needs, psychographic, behavioral, and demographic factors, it divides into subcategories.

Nestle uses a cheap price strategy rather than an expensive one if it wants to appeal to the mass market.

In the instance of Nestle’s Maggi noodles, this took place. Compared to other Nestle products, it is regarded as being reasonably priced. However, Maggi may appear to be a little expensive when compared to other noodle brands on a global scale. Bundle price strategy.

Nestle has gradually come to understand that people prefer to buy their groceries in bundles rather than doing their shopping every day. Nestle therefore adopted the bundle packs strategy.

Maggi was initially available in a single pack, but Nestle later provided a 16 pack, which ultimately enhanced sales.

3- Penetration Pricing Strategy: Nestle

Offering new items at lower prices than competitors in an effort to attract more customers away from them is known as penetration pricing.

To draw in new customers, Nestle offered a new flavor of Maggi instant noodles at a discounted price of £2.25. The goal of Nestle’s plan was to steal more customers away from its competitors who were charging £3.25 for similar flavors. Nevertheless, Nestle raised the price to £3 as their client base grew.

4- Psychological pricing strategy: Nestle

Pricing that appeals to the consumer’s psychology makes it easier for them to develop a favorable psychological impact over them and make a purchase.

Instead of costing £9, Nestle Aero bliss was marketed for £8.99. This pricing strategy will influence the consumer’s psychology favorably and encourage them to purchase the product.

5- Stock Keeping Units: Nestle

Because Nestle does not want any customers to leave, it offers a range of prices for each stock-keeping unit, enabling it to appeal to a wider audience. Nestle has everything covered, offering several pack sizes for products like Maggi noodles and cereals.

Cereal from Nestle is a little more expensive than other brands.

As a result, it began providing tiny pouches for everyday use. This has made the pouches far less expensive than larger packs, enabling various customer segments to purchase Nestle’s products.

6- Discounts offered: Nestle

Nestle provides discounts at a variety of retail stores. Nestle items frequently come in bundles and are discounted by 5% or 10%.

It is less expensive to purchase coffee and creamer together than to do it individually.

7- Competitive pricing strategy: Nestle

Analyzing the pricing policies strategies of its competitors is another broad strategy that Nestle employs. Nestle has a number of brands, and each brand has a distinct department that analyses the pricing tactics of its competitors.

Additionally, it looks at the sales, innovation, and marketing strategies of competitors. As they take into account consumer preferences, Nestle’s competitive pricing strategy helps them to achieve their desired position.

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Global pricing strategies of Nestle

Nestle makes an effort to implement pricing strategies that would help it achieve its financial goals globally. These strategies frequently use the penetration and skimming strategies.

When Nestle products are exported to foreign countries, their prices inevitably increase. As an alternative, it also employs price skimming, which involves setting a higher price initially and then lowering it in response to customer demand.

Nestle has developed into one of the top parent companies with prosperous branches operating under its umbrella. Nestle has been successful with consumers because it adapts to various price tactics based on the places it sells in and the products it offers.

It prioritizes the needs of its clients and works to offer the highest-quality goods in a variety of price ranges so that all consumer groups can afford its goods, hence boosting sales and profitability for the business.

Nestle Company’s pricing strategy- Key Insights

✔Heinrich Nestle established Nestle in Switzerland in 1866.

✔Nestle was initially developed by Heinrich for the purpose of supplying milk formula for infants. He discovered that it could be made from powdered milk, sugar, and other natural foods.

✔A multinational company called Nestle has a current net worth of roughly $270 billion. The brand’s price strategy is what has contributed to its success.

✔Compared to other brands, Nestle’s pricing strategy is very unique.

✔Price skimming, inexpensive and bundle pricing, penetration pricing, stock keeping units, psychological pricing, discounts, and competitive pricing are some of the pricing strategies that Nestle employs.

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Upcoming plans of Nestle

According to Nestle’s CEO Mark Schneider, the business intended to invest Rs. 5,000 crores in India over the next three and a half years.

The FMCG company, which owns nearly 2,000 brands worldwide, is certain that this move will enable Nestle to strengthen its core operations in India and take advantage of fresh development prospects.

It is the company’s largest investment in India since it began producing goods there.

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I love how you break down the different target markets for Nestle. This is so helpful for businesses trying to figure out where to focus their marketing efforts.

How Nestlé Became The World's Largest Food Company

Table of contents.

Let’s trace the origins of Nestlé and its exceptional legacy of 150+ years that have led it to become a company with:

• Market cap of $326.07 Billion as of Feb 9, 2023
• Over 2000 brands worldwide
• Monumental presence in 186 countries
• A workforce of nearly 276,000 employees
• Revenue of CHF 87.1 billion in 2021
• 354 factories in 79 countries

Grab a Kit Kat or sit back with a cup of freshly brewed Nescafe, and let’s go back to 1866 , the year it all began.

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A Merger Lays The Foundation Of Nestlé’s Success

The story of Nestlé begins with Henri Nestlé of Vevey, a namesake of the company, and unsurprisingly, its founder. But it is also linked with two brothers, Charles and George Page, who were located far away in America at the time.

While the world of business was not a global village back then, perhaps it was fate, the love for milk, or sheer successful marketing strategy that brought the businesses of the two together to form the Nestlé we see today.

The creation of Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company

Charles Page was a U.S. consul who visited Switzerland and became intrigued by its Swiss cows and beautiful meadows. The country had been a primary milk production center since the 19th century due to its available resources of high-quality cows and attracted people with a passion for milk production from far and wide. 

Page was one such individual with a different aspiration: he wanted to create condensed milk. Easy to store and transport, condensed milk, according to him, was the next big thing in the entrepreneurial world. 

Therefore, with his brother George Page, he created the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company and opened the doors of the first-ever condensed milk factory in Switzerland, in the town of Cham, in 1866.

Henri experiments

Meanwhile, Henri Nestlé was a local pharmacist in Vevey who loved experimenting with anything and everything he could get his hands on. This meant creating incredible food fusions was right up his alley.

During the 1860s, infant mortality rates remained a grave problem in Switzerland. As a man with 13 siblings, Henri understood the woes of infants. Yet, the turning point came when he saw that premature babies faced difficulty in consuming breast milk.

Invoking his creativity, he combined available resources and his scientific knowledge to produce “ Farine Lactee ” in 1867, an infant formula made with cow’s milk, wheat flour, and sugar.

This proved to be a breakthrough, and soon, sales increased to 1000+ cans in 1871 and more than 2000 in 1873. Two years later, Nestlé’s products could be found worldwide, including but not limited to Indonesia, Egypt, and the U.S.

As sales increased exponentially, Henri gave his company a logo symbolizing his family name that meant “Little Nest”. The logo, therefore, contained a bird’s nest.

Today, the logo has been simplified but remains its original idea and charm as an ode to the founder.

A rivalry emerges

In 1875, Henri retired, and the company was led forth by three local businessmen in Vevey. However, simultaneously, the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company expanded to newer markets in Europe, and upon discovering Nestlé’s infant formula and its success, it developed a rival product and floated it into the market.

To Nestlé, this was nothing less than a declaration of industry war, and soon after, Nestlé added a new product to its portfolio: a Farine Lactee condensed milk. Fierce competition developed, followed by price wars and predatory market strategies.

As both companies competed for a greater market share and ROI on their rival products, it did not come as a surprise when both began generating lower revenues and making losses.

The price war lasted roughly for about 30 years until the death of all three – Henri, George, and Charles.

In 1905, the current directors of the companies agreed to halt their rivalry and combine their businesses for greater market share, revenues, and expanded reach over the globe.

As a result, Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. was founded – that eventually became Nestlé.

Certificate for 100 shares of the Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co., issued 1. November 1918

Key takeaway 1: leave emotion out of strategy

For many years, Henri and the Page brothers went head to head in the milk industry, expanding into European markets, creating substitute rival products, adopting predatory pricing strategies, and undercutting price benchmarks. 

All this only yielded the worst for both businesses in the form of reduced revenues, higher price elasticity of demand, and a confused clientele.

Their saving grace was the strategic decision of the directors to call a truce and join forces – shared winners over lone losers. With the main competition becoming the same company, the focus was brought back to improving operations and opting for practices the business could sustain. Resultantly, the only path now was onwards and upwards.

This means foresight, strategy, and impartial business sense take priority over emotional responses, especially in the business world.

World War I, Government Contracts, & Innovative Strategies

Most companies take a few years to establish themselves in their local markets, minimizing risks. Only once they are comfortably settled and have enough brand appeal and resources to expand do they risk entering the global market.

But Nestle is not like most companies, is it?

Henri Nestle had become a big player in the Western Europe Market, and Page Brothers were leading the way in Britain. Thus, the merger already allowed Nestle to be the go-to condensed milk brand.

From there, it was always going to spread itself and capture as much of the global share as it could, and so it did. Within a decade, this newly merged company had taken its operations around the world, establishing factories in the UK, Europe, the United States, and Asia.

An unexpected opportunity

WWI broke out in 1914, and the scale of disruption around the globe was huge.  Almost every industry was affected. Some thrived and grew, but many collapsed or barely survived.

Nestle also faced an initial period of hardship where it was difficult to maintain its supplies due to severe shortages, and maintaining a smooth distribution network in Europe was near impossible. Hence, most of their supplies ran out of catering to the needs of locals.

However, the war presented a unique opportunity. The demand for milk shot up, and consequently, governments around the world sought contracts with major milk producers and distributors.

Nestle acquired several of these contracts that enabled it to not only come out of the difficult situation it was in but also rapidly expand its operations. It developed most of its factories in the US, where supply and distribution were easier, and recovery began. In fact, by the end of the war, the company had over 40 factories in the world, nearly doubling Nestlé’s overall production.

Moving forward by embracing innovation

Of course, the circumstances around WWI were unusual and worked in favor of Nestle. But it wasn’t the only reason the firm grew at such a pace. Research and innovation had defined the companies that came together to form Nestle. Hence, the same qualities were inherited and ingrained in Nestle. At a time where global infrastructure was going through a phase of transformation, Nestle was at the forefront of it utilizing it and spreading it.

For instance, railways and steamships were the new business logistics, and they became the company’s ticket into established and untapped urban markets overseas. Print media became the main face of modern marketing. Nestle cleverly capitalized on it by projecting its brand through newspapers, magazines, and billboards. The adverts focused on what made the company stand out: quality, taste, nutrition, safety, and affordability – characteristics Nestle still proudly stands by.

All while these advancements were being embraced, Nestle didn’t lose sight of what they were truly about: their products. Hence, as far as production is concerned, they continued to introduce more efficient methods in their factories, expanding their capacity and boosting quality.

Key takeaway 2: growth follows the ambitious

Both World Wars were make-or-break events. From a decrease in demand to a disruption in supply, Nestle faced all sorts of challenges. But Nestle, even before it merged, was always looking for opportunities to grow, and the government contracts gained during the war were essentially the result of it. If Nestle didn’t have its operations worldwide, it would never have captured the governmental radar. It may have survived the shortage; it may not have.

These contracts allowed the company to grow, which worked perfectly with its innovative strategies, such as tapping urban markets and marketing using print media to enhance the brand appeal and create brand affinity. This highlights the importance of being proactive and always looking for potential opportunities, even in challenging times. 

World Wars & Expanding The Product Portfolio

1918 , the year WWI finally ended.

The fighting did stop, but the unstable economic situation the world was in couldn’t be fixed easily. Nestle’s government contracts were up, and it found itself amongst the many companies facing the force of the crisis. To add to their difficulties, consumers that had shifted to condensed milk during the war shifted back to fresh milk as supply resumed.

The company went into a loss for the first time in 1921 .

Timely response

At that point, sales were down, and production costs were high for Nestle. Its operations needed an overhaul to reach sustainability. For this purpose, Swiss banker Louis Dapples was handed the task of reorganizing the company.

Not only was he able to match production and sales, but the move also helped Nestle clear its outstanding debt. Thereafter, the company spent a good part of the decade staying afloat and focusing on sustaining its operations.

More than a milk company

First milk, and then condensed milk; despite having a global reach, Nestle hadn’t really made an effort to expand its product portfolio.

Perhaps, till the 1920s , it had never felt the need to. It had been growing at a rapid pace and adding several countries to its customer base. Now, as growth stagnated and consumer demand shifted to fresh milk, something different had to be done.

Thus, they made a series of acquisitions that opened their doors to new industries, the most notable of which was the Kohler Swiss Chocolate company in the mid-1920s . Consequently, chocolate became the second most important product of Nestle.

‍ Nestlé buys Switzerland's largest chocolate company Peter-Cailler-Kohler

Alongside chocolate, the company also introduced malted milk, a powdered beverage named Milo, and powdered buttermilk for small children.

Malted chocolate drink Milo launches in Australia

The Nescafe revolution

The chocolate business was going well for Nestle, but they were yet to launch the product that would change the company’s future forever.

In 1930 , the Brazilian Coffee Institute approached the company with a unique problem. Brazil had a huge surplus of coffee, but there was no real demand or use at the time. Nestle spent the next 8 years researching and experimenting with products to develop from this coffee.

While the Brazilians suggested coffee cubes, Nestle had a better idea instead.

Voila, in 1938 , Nestle launched “Nescafe” an instant soluble coffee solution, the first of its kind and one of the most popular Nestle products to date. This was later followed by Nestea, another incredibly popular product that continues to drive the tastes of many across the globe today.

Nestlé launches NESCAFÉ in Switzerland on 1 April 1938

The USA again becomes the helping hand

There was immense potential in Nescafe, but at the same time, Nestle began to experience the severe impacts of WWII even before it broke into a worldwide conflict. The company’s revenues nosedived from $20 million in 1938 to $6 million in 1939 .

Although Switzerland remained neutral in both world wars, the situation in Europe was highly volatile, and business could not be conducted normally. Again, Nestle looked towards America by shifting its base of operations to Connecticut, far away from the conflict.

Their previous experience during WWI had allowed the company to form healthy relationships with the states, which helped them settle in. Unfortunately, the USA could not stay away from the war for too long and joined the allies in 1941 .

For Nestle, it was a complete blessing; Nescafe became a staple food for the US military as it was easily preservable, and the taste has already become a hit. Hence, without having to spend a fortune on advertisements, the coffee product penetrated worldwide, and funnily, its first brand ambassadors were allied soldiers.

Nestle sent tons and tons of Nescafe to the frontlines and managed to turn around their sales completely. From making $100 million in 1938 to reaching up to $225 million in 1945 .

Key takeaway 3: diversify and innovate

The end of WWI and the economic depression brought by it made life difficult for almost every business, including Nestle. Plus, the fact that customers preferred fresh milk instead of condensed milk meant that Nestle found it difficult to sustain its business. 

Customers’ demands and preferences, as well as the market scenarios, can change drastically over time. Nestle learned that they needed to be flexible enough to adapt and bold enough to take risks. Otherwise, they will be left with no choice but to shut up shop. 

This is when the milk company gradually began expanding by introducing new products and exploring new markets. It, in turn, allowed the company to grow despite the difficult situation.

Hence, companies should never rest on their laurels and try to improve consistently, be it by innovating, branching out, and increasing the quality and quantity of products or services they offer.

Growth Through Acquisitions and Diversification

The end of the world war had set the perfect stage for Nestle to take its business to the next level. Sales were at an all-time high, Nescafe and Nestea were making waves, and through military and government supports, the company had opened up new markets for its products.

On top of it, the world did not go into a similar depression like WWI. Instead, it marked a period of stability and peace, one which firms everywhere looked to capitalize on. Likewise, Nestle did not waste any time in getting in on the action and making some very key and monumental moves. In fact, these post-war years are often termed as the most dynamic period in the company's history!

Seasoned Maggi Soups and Broadein Food Products

As the world recovered from the war, Nestle followed an aggressive acquisition policy acquiring multiple brands worldwide. The most significant name it added to its portfolio was fellow Swiss company, Maggi.

The journey for this soup and noodles company started somewhat around the same time as that of Henri Nestle. Its founder, Julius Maggi shared the same vision of serving nutritious yet convenient foods to the public.

After the war, in 1947 , Maggi went through a number of restructurings and changes in leadership. Resultantly, the best way for the company to move forward was to join hands with Nestle. Their established factories in numerous countries introduced the Maggi brand to the world, and it became a sensation. In fact, in many Asian regions, Maggi is synonymous with instant noodles.

The Magic of Maggi

Following Maggi’s acquisition, Nestle took over several other firms in the food industry, including:

• 1960 : Crosse & Blackwell, a British can and preserved food manufacturer
• 1963 : Findus, a Swedish frozen food company
• 1971: American fruit juices company Libby
• 1973: Stouffer, a frozen and prepared foods brand

With these moves, Nestle extended its product range and established a stronghold in the preserved foods industry.

Developing new & improving existing “convenience” products

While Nestle spread its wings by bringing other brands under its umbrella, it did not lose sight of the products it developed itself.

For instance, the Nescafe coffee, which had been a huge success during the war, continued its astonishing path upwards. From 1950 to 1959 , its sales almost tripled, and with the development of an anti-freeze version in 1966 , its sales quadrupled in the next decade.

Simultaneously, Nestle also worked on launching new products. In 1948 , it further embedded itself in American households with Nesquik, a chocolate powder that would instantly mix in cold milk. 

Owing to the product’s success, they even introduced the Nesquik Bunny to win over both adults and children.

During the same time, Nestle rebranded its infant cereals as Cerelac while launching an extensive range of canned foods under Maggi.

Diversifying beyond the food industry

By the 1970s , Nestle had well and truly occupied a dominant position in the food industry. It was now time to step out of the comfort zone and venture into new industries.

The big break came in 1974 when Nestle made a move for a Parisian hair care company, L'Oréal. Established in 1909 , this company had gone from making hair dyes to a full range of cosmetic care products. It has also formed a loyal customer base in France.

With big plans, Nestle offered the family owners of L'Oréal a 3% stake in Nestle in return for a 50% share. The offer was too attractive to refuse, and the two companies entered into a new partnership. This merger reaped multifold returns for both parties, and by the 1980s , the brand was the leader in its industry.

The cosmetic arena wasn’t the only one Nestle aimed to capture. There was an economic slowdown and general volatility between the French and Swiss markets. The price of cocoa and coffee went up more than three times. Nestle decided to take a risk and leap into waters it had never been in before.

In 1977 , it also became the owner of the American pharmaceutical company, Alcon. This, too, was a success with the brand operating in 75+ countries and being sold more than twice that number.

Merger to remember & the future of coffee

Nestle never looked to slow down despite its numerous acquisitions and diverse brand offerings.

In 1984 , it offered a mind-blowing $3 billion to buy out the food company, Carnation. Many believe this to be one of the largest acquisitions outside the oil industry – at least at the time. The scale of the deal was such that it took a year for it to be approved and finalized.

It wasn’t just being in the same industry that sparked Nestle’s interest; it was also the fact that Carnation had a diverse portfolio, including a profitable pet food brand, Friskies, and Contadino tomato products.

Nestle also added UK confectionery company Rowntree Mackintosh to its list of acquisitions in 1988 , giving it ownership of popular chocolates, Kitkat and Smarties. In the same year, it also included Buitoni-Perugina, a major Italian pasta and confectionery company to its mix.

Alongside the mergers, Nestle was also actively working on making a comeback with its coffee products. Thus, in 1986 , it rolled out Nespresso, a premium version of its coffee, different from the previous freeze-dried budget version. The idea behind it was simple: present a DIY system for any person who wanted to enjoy luxury coffee.

Key takeaway 4: seek opportunities in both new and existing industries

Many firms that plan to diversify their portfolios lose grip on their main industry. Nestle wasn’t one of them. Its initial strategy for growth post-WWII was to cement its hold in the food industry with a series of acquisitions and new product offerings. Then, it made its move in other industries while still improving on its basic offerings of food, coffee, and chocolate-related products.

Nestle grew exponentially by tactfully merging and acquiring companies it thought would add value to its brand. This paid off handsomely and turned Nestle into a force to be reckoned with. It highlights the need for brands to enhance their value offerings, using whatever means they have at their disposal, right from diversifying to collaborating with others.

International Force - Nestle's Global Strategy

With the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, markets in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as China opened up. Trade barriers disintegrated, liberalization picked up the pace, and economic markets around the globe started to integrate well.

This proved to be quite beneficial for Nestle. There were new diverse markets to expand to and favorable policies that encouraged them – not that they needed any second invitation. 

Onwards & upwards with tactful acquisitions

From the late 1990s to the late 2000s, Nestle went on an aggressive acquisition spree and acquired the following companies:

• San Pellegrino group , the leading Italian mineral water business, in 1998 paved the way for Nestle to launch Nestle Pure Life and lead in Europe while making a way into developing countries worldwide.
• Spillers Petfoods in 1998 enabled Nestle to cement its position as a key player in the pet food business around the globe and Europe in particular.
• Ralston Purina , U.S.'s pet food business, in 2002 and merged with Nestlé Friskies Petcare, creating a market leader in the pet care industry, Nestlé Purina Petcare.
• The U.S. ice cream business merged with Dreyer's in 2002, establishing Nestle as the leader in the U.S., the world's largest ice cream market. 
• Movenpick Ice Cream in 2003 to complement Nestle's super-premium ice cream brands portfolio in North America and Italy.
• Delta Ice Cream in 2005 as Nestle's realized that the ice cream business was a profitable opportunity and the company could make inroad in the growing Greek and Balkans ice cream market.
• Chef America Inc in 2002 as Nestle continued with its horizontal integration and expanded into the frozen foods market, which was growing.
• Jenny Craig and Uncle Toby's in 2006 as Nestle wanted to stay true to its commitment to nutrition, health, and wellness and reinforce its presence in the U.S., the world's largest nutrition and weight management market.
• Medical Nutrition division of Novartis Pharmaceutical in 2007 as it was complementary to Nestle's Healthcare Nutrition Business and enhanced Nestle's capabilities to cater to the needs of its customers with special nutritional requirements.
• Henniez in 2007 to augment its position in the competitive Swiss bottled water market, leveraging the solid industrial capacity and distribution network of the company.
• Gerber , the iconic U.S. baby food brand, in 2007 became the number 1 player in the U.S., the world's largest baby food market, transforming Nestle Nutrition into a global leader.

A number of other partnerships were also made, such as the one with Belgian chocolatier Pierre Marcolini , helping Nestle augment its position in the food and nutrition industry while allowing it to diversify in health, wellness, and beauty.

Now, why did Nestle do that?

The answer is to remain attuned to the changing consumer tastes and remains ahead in a market that never stays still.

Sure, continuous innovation is essential, but Nestle didn't just rely on that and continued to acquire businesses and benefit from synergies to become the undisputed leader in the business world.

All this while, Nestle has remained true to its roots and continued to delight its customers worldwide.

Realizing that with expanding its global footprint, there was bound to be an array of issues that it needed to deal with effectively, Nestle launched a Group-wide initiative called GLOBE (Global Business Excellence) .

The primary purpose behind this initiative was to harmonize and simplify business processes and empower Nestle to make the most of its competitive advantage while alleviating the risks and drawbacks.

Key takeaway 5: growth & diversification through acquisition

From San Pellegrino in 1997 to Henniez and Gerber in 2007, Nestle's relentless strategy to acquire an array of businesses in different markets, ranging from pet care and baby food to ice cream and bottled water, strengthened its overall position and breathed new life into the company.

Nestle not only wanted to expand to new product lines but also become the market leader in all of them, in different parts of the world. The fastest and most effective way to do just that was through strategic acquisitions. 

In an ever-evolving market, staying still or focusing solely on a select few activities is risky for large businesses. The key, at times, to grow is to embrace an external growth strategy by acquisitions in different industries with distinctive lines of business.

Commitment To Innovation

Nestle stays firmly committed to its goals of helping people, families, and pets around the globe live happier and healthier lives. From meeting the ever-evolving needs of the modern consumer to providing safe and premium-quality of food on-demand, Nestle does it all.

However, it understands that dramatic shifts are happening in the market with consumer demands dynamically changing, new entrants offering endless choices, and people living and shopping in ways never seen before.

Winning in such an environment requires disruption and a hybrid-growth model. No one understands that better than Nestle, and here’s how it is driving value from its base portfolio while embracing new ventures to scale up.

Nestle: 150-year-old start-up innovating from within

Unlike other business entities that outsource the innovation part and fail to prepare for the future, Nestle has strategically decided to combine its scale and capabilities with the mentality and speed of a start-up.

InGenius , Nestlé's employee innovation accelerator, is the ultimate platform that encourages intrapreneurship within the company. Internal start-ups within the company are launched , and employees are encouraged to think big and creatively.

Moreover, Nestle’s global R&D accelerator program brings together scientists, students, and employees, empowering them to come up with new innovative products.

Lean designs, fast prototyping, quick testing, continuous hustling, and room for big risks make the incubator program a success. The goal of the internal start-ups is to help promptly develop new product lines from scratch within 9 months, paving the way for the future of food.

What’s more is that employees are given challenges to solve, ranging from improving the quality of food to helping achieve the net-zero target. On top of this, Nestle also helps young social entrepreneurs, outside its fold, by offering them holistic support, mentorship, and access to its R&D and innovation experts by partnering up with Ashoka – an organization that identifies and supports social entrepreneurs.

Rethinking & reinventing

To better tap into today’s consumer trends, Nestle goes the extra mile to revive the brands with modern innovation.

It does this by introducing new varieties of products and adding unique flavors to attract new customers and retain existing ones. For instance, in 2017 alone, Nestle launched 1000 new products. Yes, that’s right!

From bringing in new flavors of juices and milk to launching frozen organic meals and non-dairy desserts, among others, it tries its best to exceed its customers’ expectations.

Enhancing capabilities

Fueling growth through innovation and improving operational efficiency are two key components of Nestle’s value creation model.

While innovation is considered everyone’s job at Nestle , increasing operational efficiency is also stressed.

Each and every aspect of the business, be it hiring people, using data analytics to make decisions based on logic, optimizing supply chains, or deploying manufacturing solutions, is reviewed and revamped to increase efficiency and deliver desired business outcomes.

Future of food

Nestle, together with Swiss academic and industrial partners such as ETH Zurich, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), and companies Bühler and Givaudan, announced a joint research program, Future of Food , that will help develop nutritious, tasty, sustainable, and trendy food and beverage products.

It's just another example of Nestle leveraging innovation and partnerships to move forward. Plus, it highlights Nestle’s commitment to providing healthy food while doing right by the environment.

The future is healthy, sustainable, and personalized

Nestle is actively working on providing healthier diets to people worldwide. It's even reformulating its popular products such as Kit Kat and Maggi, among others, to reduce the sugar, salt, and saturated fat in them while also transitioning its brands towards organic.

In addition to this, it is actively working towards ensuring its supply chains have zero environmental impact and reducing its carbon footprint by changing its plastic packaging.

Nestle has announced that it will phase out all packaging that’s not recyclable by 2025 and ensure the packaging it uses is eco-friendly.

Last but not least, Nestle, in its quest to stand out and scale, is emphasizing the need to please customers in every way possible. It aims to do that by delivering customers exactly what they want, how they want it, and in the taste, and shape they want it.

Meeting the needs of consumers on an individual level, according to Nestle will make all the difference. Hence, it is investing in it. Nestle acquired a start-up in UK, Tails.com, which provides tailored diets to dogs on a monthly basis based on age, breed, and weight among other factors.

Key takeaway 6: innovate, innovate, and innovate

Ascending to the top is one thing, but remaining at the top is the real challenge. Nestle’s strategy of launching incubators, experimenting with products, enhancing capabilities, and thinking ahead to create a new future highlights the importance the company places on innovation.

Nestle never hesitates to be bold and go out of its way to innovate to accelerate its growth and achieve scale. It realizes the value that can be derived from innovation and hence, leaves no stone unturned in thinking out of the box and putting its money where its mouth is.  More than anything else, this fundamental strategy has helped the company dominate and remain a customer favorite.

Nestle In The New Normal

Nestle: the multi-national company that adapts

A vital company in the challenging times of Covid-19, Nestle made many changes in its processing and manufacturing processes to continue supplying good food. As supply chain challenges intensified, Nestle focused its efforts on streamlining the supply chain end-to-end, from sourcing supplies to logistics. 

Nestle had 8.1% organic growth in the first half of its fiscal year 2022.

Nestle: the best employer

Making the health and safety of its employees a priority, Nestle implemented enhanced safety measures on and off its premises, including factories, distribution centers, labs, and offices.

Nestle responded to Covid-19 effectively and made sure its employees are protected and motivated by:

• Allowing working from home 
• Restricting travel and exposure to the virus
• Introducing the best hygiene practices
• Implementing effective social distancing measures
• Giving a special 14-day COVID-19 leave
• Offering financial support in the form of loans

Nestle: the company that gives back to the community

Nestle extended a helping hand to those in need in the crisis. It provided holistic support to medical institutions, food banks, food delivery organizations, and relief organizations in the local communities who are on the frontline. 

Not only did Nestle donate essentials such as food and bottled water but also money. Nestle joined forced with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and donated  CHF 10 million . Plus, in order to speed up the vaccination and ensure fair distribution of vaccines, it partnered up with COVAX and donated  CHF 2 million. 

Key takeaway 7: stay resilient 

There’s no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the global markets and adversely impacted Nestle in ways more than one. However, Nestle managed to survive and thrive by continuously adapting, being proactive, and striving to do right by the people and the communities it served, as evident from its increased market share and growth during the period.

Nestle in a nutshell

Nestle products are recognized, consumed, and valued in all corners of the world. It is a company that has ingrained itself in the day-to-day life of people and continues to raise the bar higher. From innovation, people management, and a long-term strategic approach to the quality of products and services, social responsibility, and competitiveness, Nestle ticks all the boxes.

Here are the four main lessons derived from the growth of Nestle from a relatively small Swiss-based company established in 1866 to one of the most successful, admired, and profitable multinational companies in the world:

Key takeaway 1: globalize but also localize

A company as big as Nestle, which operates in almost all countries worldwide, has achieved success by localizing its offerings and catering to the needs of each individual market.

Sure, it could have made generalized global strategies and campaigns, but it took the difficult path by localizing everything from sourcing, product planning, production, marketing, and even its brand strategy.

It highlights the importance of being customer-centric regardless of who you are as a company and where you operate.

Key takeaway 2: innovate – change is an opportunity

Whether it be changing consumer demands, the evolving marketplace, or crisis situations, Nestle has never stopped innovating. Sure, it has paid the price of a few campaigns gone wrong, but one thing that it has been relentless at is continuing to strive to be a step ahead.

Nestle does it all, from committing to sustainability to coming up with new creative ways of providing more value to all stakeholders. It serves as a lesson for brands in this modern digital age. You can only survive and succeed if you innovate. Period.

Key takeaway 3: grow through acquisitions

Nestle has over 2000 brands. Yes, that’s right. Nestle has rapidly grown, gained a competitive advantage, increased its market share, achieved synergies, and enhanced efficiency in its business by acquiring companies.

It actively looks for potential acquisition opportunities and doesn’t hesitate to take risks. This showcases that if you want to grow as a company, you need to broaden your horizons and partner up with others. Foresight, strategic decisions, and impartial business sense are critical - now more than ever. 

The external growth strategy has worked wonders for Nestle by allowing it to expand into new industries and distinctive production lines - all of which have contributed immensely to its growth over the years. Simply put, if you can’t beat them, just join them, or well, in Nestle’s case, buy them.

Key takeaway 4: importance of brand & values

As a company, your values are bigger than your revenue. If you truly focus on and stick to your values, you can attract consumers and scale your company. Nestle has done just that by not only saying but becoming the “Good food, Good Life” company.

It firmly abides by its core principles of “ Unlocking the power of food to enhance the quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come .”

Every decision that is made, every product that is launched, every customer that is served, is served to shape a better and healthier world. No wonder Nestle has become a global icon from a local favorite.

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Nestle's Maggi: Pricing and Repositioning a Recalled Product

By: Neeraj Pandey, Gaganpreet Singh

In June 2015, the Indian food regulatory body, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, declared Nestlé's brand of noodles, Maggi, unsafe for human consumption. Tested samples showed excess…

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• Publication Date: Jun 7, 2016
• Discipline: Marketing
• Product #: W16344-PDF-ENG

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In June 2015, the Indian food regulatory body, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, declared Nestlé's brand of noodles, Maggi, unsafe for human consumption. Tested samples showed excess levels of lead and added monosodium glutamate. To retain the trust of consumers, Nestlé recalled Maggi from all store shelves in the country. Management was then grappling with an improved re-positioning strategy to help Nestlé retain its considerable market share in India. The other issue that Nestlé needed to resolve was what role pricing would play in influencing consumer purchase decisions during the proposed product relaunch.

Neeraj Pandey is affiliated with National Institute of Industrial Engineering. Gaganpreet Singh is affiliated with National Institute of Industrial Engineering.

Learning Objectives

This case is designed for graduate and undergraduate management courses, especially in relation to the concepts of pricing, product management, and brand management, as well as in discussions of segmentation, targeting, and positioning. The case is also suitable for course packs in marketing management, pricing, and strategic marketing. After completion of this case, students should be able to understand the role of pricing in the relaunch of a product; understand the strategic pricing pyramid to set pricing for a product; understand prospect theory in terms of pricing; understand how prospect theory influences buyer perception; draft a new value communication strategy for a product; and discuss the importance of educating the target customer through the media and how to lobby lawmakers and regulatory authorities

Jun 7, 2016

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Ivey Publishing

W16344-PDF-ENG

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Nestlé's Creating Shared Value Strategy

• Format: Print
• | Language: English
• | Pages: 23

About The Author

Michael E. Porter

Related work.

• January 2019
• Faculty Research
• Nestlé's Creating Shared Value Strategy  By: Mark R. Kramer
• Nestlé's Creating Shared Value Strategy  By: Michael E. Porter, Mark R. Kramer, Kerry Herman and Sarah McAra

Nestle Case Study: How Nestle’s Marketing Strategy Helped Them Grow as a Brand-2023

How many of you can answer this?

What is one common thing among Nescafe, Caregrow, KitKat, and Maggi?

Any guesses?

Yes, they are world-renowned brands, are familiar names in every household, and are products you must have consumed in your life at one point.

Anything other than these?

Yes. All these belong to one and only Nestle.

Be it in the fresh smell of hot coffee, a short break, or a bowl of tasty noodles- we cannot deny that all of us have enjoyed the awesomeness of Nestle’s products.

The brand has come a long way, crossing so many hurdles and achieving success, and it keeps growing.

Today, nestle is a brand that everyone is familiar with and uses in their day-to-day life.

Curious to know how?

In this Nestle case study, we are discussing everything about Nestle company, the marketing mix of Nestle, nestle competitors in India, marketing sales promotion techniques of nestle, and much more.

Nestle owns more than 2000 brands, from global stars to local ones.

How did Nestle achieve this level of success?

The brand has been in the market for more than 150 years, but many companies got this opportunity but failed. Nestle survived.

What is the secret of Nestle’s success?

This Nestle case study shows you a glimpse of nestle strategy and what digital marketing and social media strategies they followed that led to achieving this success.

So, let’s start by understanding a bit more about Nestle as a company.

Nestle had come a long way from when it entered the market by selling infant food in the 1860s with a motto to reduce child mortality rates.

Gradually, it became a renowned name in the wellness, healthy food, and pet care industry with its evergreen tagline, “Good Food, Good Life.”

Now, you must be thinking that how did Nestle reach this position? How can a company build a legacy which is so powerful that it has stood still since its birth?

The answer to this may lie in Nestle’s digital marketing and functional strategy.

Nestle Case study: Introduction of Nestle company

Nestle is a world-renowned manufacturer of packaged foods and beverages. It is the world’s largest food manufacturer operating in more than 186 countries and with over 2000 product brands.

The brand came to India in 1956. Since that time, from selling its first milk product in the 1960s to selling a wide variety of Nestle products in India, Nestle has grown exponentially in India.

With such exponential growth, Nestle’s umbrella keeps widening day by day. They are not only the largest food and beverage company in the world but also one of the best companies that have effortlessly collaborated with the online world and achieved immense success.

Gradually, Nestle India started making its presence felt in the FMCG sector, and now the brand enjoys a good market share in the food and beverage industry.

Being the most extensive food and beverage brand in terms of revenue, the pricing strategy of Nestle company, along with its targeting and positioning system, has played a vital role in reaching the position where it is currently.

Let us find out how it has served the Indian market with its products and services.

Nestle offers products in breakfast cereals, beverages, dairy, chocolates, nutritious foods like vending, and food services.

Popular food products like Kit Kat, Maggi, Milkmaid, Polo, and Nescafe come under Nestle’s products sold in India.

For more than 150 years, this iconic brand has been applying its expertise in Health, Nutrition, and Wellness to help its customers, pets, and families live a healthier and happier life.

However, they believe what is good today might not be suitable for tomorrow.

So, they keep exploring and focusing on pushing the boundaries to find more to experiment with foods, nutrition, and beverages.

Nestle unlocks the power of food to improve the quality of life for everyone, not just today but for generations to come.

The brand focuses on bringing more pleasure and enjoyment to the customers, how they can enable better health, and how they can make the best nutrition affordable to everyone.

Not just these, but the brand tries new ways to protect and improve natural resources.

History & Founder

Nestle was founded in 1905 by the union of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, set up in 1866 by brothers Charles and George Page and Farine Lactee Henri Nestle, founded by Henri Nestle in 1866.

Nestle originated in 1860 when two separate Swiss enterprises later created Nestle.

In the following decades, the two rival companies grew their businesses throughout the United States and Europe.

In 1866, George Page and Charles Page, brothers from Lee County, Illinois, USA, formed the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company in Cham, Switzerland. The company’s British operation started in 1873 at Chippenham, Wiltshire.

It was during the First World War when the organization grew significantly, and again during the Second World War, the company increased its offerings beyond its initial condensed milk and infant food products.

Nestle Case Study : Facts & Figures

Here are a few interesting numbers about Nestle that sets it apart from others.

• Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company.
• The brand has 276000 employees
• Nestle has acquired 30 companies

Nestle Case Study: Nestle competitors in India

Nestle has many major customer brands like Carnation, Kit Kat, Nestle-water, and Stouffers, among others.

Thirty of its brands netted more than $1 billion in earnings in the year 2010, which makes the company a vital force in the worldwide food and beverage industry.

With around 42 % of its sales being in North America, Nestle is one of the most geographically distinct companies in the food and beverage industry. It places it in a position that helps it edge over its competitors.

Its brands are well established in a considerable market share in leading economies like U.S. and Europe.

Danone and Unilever are important competitors for Nestle. These two are giants in the food and beverage industry, like Nestle.

In 2010, Unilever posted around 26% growth in yearly profits because of its accelerated sales in the food and beverage industry, especially ice cream, frozen food, tea-based beverages, and cooking products.

On the other hand, Danone stated around a 38 percent increase because of its improved share prices. In addition, a rise in its yogurt sales also enhanced the growth in earnings.

However, nestle handles positioned itself in the market by adopting a new accounting method which aided a decline in its cost of sales.

The company could also incorporate discounts, allowances, and promotions for its retailers through sales profits rather than the marketing line.

Though its sale was lesser for a year, nestle pricing strategy helped them match its peers, which in turn, made it a famous manufacturer even though the competition was so high.

Being the world’s most popular food manufacturer, nestle has intense competition with its rival company, Unilever.

Unilever has around 1,49,000 employees and operates in 160 countries, with its headquarters in London for food, home, and personal care.

The company is trying hard to beat Nestle in terms of the quality of their product, which has made Unilever the second company in the Western European ready meals market with a market share of around 8.6%, i.e., 0.3 points behind the iconic Nestle.

Nestle’s Target Audience and Products for Each Segment

The unique thing about Nestle is that it offers a wide range of products that covers audiences of different ages, from 2-year-old to working professionals.

Here’s a breakdown of Nestle’s Target Audience and the products meant for them.

• Target Audience
• Working Professionals
• General Audiences
• Koko Krunch, Caregrow, Lactogrow
• Sunrise, Nescafe
• Maggi, KitKat, Milkmaid

Everyone, especially coffee lovers, will know how Nescafe is a big hit among working professionals.

Nestle guarantees that Nescafe is the only coffee that would keep professionals fresh throughout the day, and who does not want to feel fresh?

Regarding kids, parents blindly trust the product “Caregrow” by Nestle. The product consists of cereals to keep young kids healthy.

However, nestle has several other products like KitKat, Milkmaid, and Maggi for the general audience.

It is how Nestle has designed something for everyone in India. In the coming section, we will dig into how Nestle has advertised itself and its products in the digital world.

Nestle’s Digital Marketing Strategies

By now, you must have understood that Nestle is the world’s largest food and beverage company in terms of revenue. So, it might be basic information for many of you.

But what if we say Nestle always tries to be one step ahead regarding marketing strategies and policies?

It has always focused on the most updated marketing ways no matter, whether it is digital marketing strategies or offline strategies.

Nestle’s marketing strategies will teach you to build marketing strategies that work and get a positive response from customers.

Let us start with Nestle’s Digital Marketing Strategies that must follow if they want to succeed as a brand.

Partner with influential celebrities

Nescafe, a product of Nestle, collaborates with celebrities to put forward their message and create more noise around their brand.

A few years ago, they announced Bollywood actress Disha Patani as their brand ambassador.

Recently, they launched a campaign with famous content creators called “Karne Se Hi Hona Hai,” which means “Only doing will make it happen.”

They created this campaign during the Covid Pandemic to inspire people and encourage them to keep working hard towards their dreams no matter their situation.

Through this campaign, they targeted the youth of India and asked them to dream, act, and achieve success.

• Run campaigns that foster connections and bring customers together

An ordinary 37-year-old guy named Arnaud, with 1,2000 Facebook friends, was challenged by the company to catch up with his friends over a cup of coffee.

So, he filmed these meetings and turned them into a 42-minute online video documentary. During the sessions, Arnaud enjoyed a cup of Nescafe with his pals.

The documentary was a big hit on social media. It got almost 8 million views on Facebook, around 63,050 likes, 4,850 comments, and 5,550 shares. 

The Facebook Page of Nescafe saw an increase in the number of fans by 400%.

Fans were excited by the documentary and wanted to know how to turn their online friendships into real-life relationships.

As a reaction, it created the “le Defi Nescafe,” a Facebook campaign to allow winners to reinvent the same experience.

More than 26,000 people applied, around 19,000 liked it, and nearly 1,725 shared.

Instantly, Nescafe became an online sensation by marketing itself as an item that stimulates connections and friendships.

2. Localization of Products

Localization is adapting an organization’s products to the local market. Nestle has gone huge on localization in various markets where it now manages.

For example, consider Japan, where the organization’s primary foray was through coffee-flavored chocolates.

Japan is traditionally a tea-drinking country, and the company established these candies so that kids could also get to know the taste of coffee.

Later, it introduced Nescafe and KitKat, and what happened is history.

3. Content Marketing

Nestle has created many video content on every brand’s YouTube channels. The content ranges from informative “how-to” videos to cooking tips to better insights on using the right products.

For example, the “Meri Maggi” has more than 530 videos with more than 5,71,000 subscribers.

Though video content is an expanding channel in Nestle’s marketing strategy, it has recognized other avenues to share relevant information with its consumers.

4. Out-of-Home Advertising

Nestle’s brands, including Maggi, Milo, KitKat, and Nescafe, use different ways to grab customers’ attention.

Whether benches, hoardings, or banners, Nestle’s brands have made it to the limelight for their contextuality and creativity.

What are the advantages of using OOH ads? First, most people correctly receive these ads. They are worth sharing.

People can take photos online, send them to their friends or relatives, and even marketers discuss them.

In addition, with the help of OTT, they can reach many people at a low cost.

Also, Nestle’s marketing strategies are exceptional and generate some customers.

5. Co-branding

Have you ever heard about Android KitKat?

A few years back, Google and Nestle united and invented an Android KitKat operating system.

Nestle was facing a new scandal with their pet product and wanted to capitalize on the image of Google. This movie created a buzz and surpassed the crisis.

Lately, nestle signed another deal with Starbucks to kill two different birds at a time.

First, the brand entered the new product development stage-i.e., roasted beans- and improved its brand by discovering a wide range of Starbucks Nespresso Capsules.

Did you understand how co-branding helped Nestle?

Co-branding is great for stepping into a new market and widening your reach. This marketing benefits startup that wants to create brand awareness or launch a new item.

It would help if you found companies that complement your products and collaborated with them to run co-branding promotional ads.

Nestle – Challenges Faced

Undoubtedly, Maggi was the most popular instant noodles brand in India. The brand had established its presence in India’s food industry, but suddenly it became controversial.

State food regulators stated that Maggi contains Monosodium Glutamate and lead above the recommended limits, which were dangerous, especially for kids.  

When nestle encountered lab results, it said that they had a world-class quality control procedure and that their products were safe for consumption.

Ultimately, the National Food Regulator FSSAI ordered to ban on the selling of Maggi, including product recall.

Consequently, various state governments imposed a temporary ban on selling Maggi noodles in a few states. As a result, the future of the company suddenly started looking dark.

Another acquisition of Nestle by the critics was they accused that the brand discouraged mothers from breastfeeding.

They showed that their baby formula is much healthier than breastfeeding, although they didn’t have any proof to support this.

It resulted in a boycott of Maggi for the first time after its launch in 1977 in the United States and slowly spread to Europe.

Several reports have acknowledged the widespread use of child labor in Cocoa production, slavery, and child trafficking, throughout the Western African plantations on which Nestle and other important chocolate companies depend.

As per the 2010 documentary, The Dark Side of Chocolate, the kids working are usually 12 to 15 years old. Nestle faced criticism from The Fair Labour Association for not properly checking.

Different Campaigns by Nestle 

• Ask Nestle Campaign

In this campaign, Nestle India launched a digital tool, NINA, which stands for Nestle India Nutrition Assistant on AskNestle, which used Artificial Intelligence to offer real-time nutritional information on the foods we consume.

In addition, it assisted Indian parents in designing a nutritious customized meal plan for their kids below 12.

This campaign by Nestle was India’s first artificially intelligent assistant that permits one to find nutritional information for kids.

So, this is how Nestle India set its foot on digital fronts and started driving organic traffic and improved overall engagement compared to competitors.

2. #WeMissYouToo Maggi Campaign

Maggi suffered a massive loss after it got banned as Maggi contained a high amount of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) and lead content- more than what is allowed.

It was hard for them to hope for a comeback, but Maggi did their best and experienced huge sales. As a result, the price and volume of Maggi are now much more significant than before.

How did they do so?

They did so through their different marketing campaigns. One among them was the #WeMissYouToo campaign.

In addition, they published a few videos showing how people are kissing Maggi and how their life was better with Maggi.

Videos showed how Maggi has been a staple food for many and how its absence had affected their lives. 

In campaigns, characters addressed Maggi as “yaar” or a “close friend” who is always there for them when in need. 

Therefore, they considered Maggi’s return as a huge celebration that brought people’s life to normalcy.

3. A Campaign for kids: Poora Poshan Poori Tasalli

Nestle Caregrow started this campaign in 2019. The campaign targeted couples living in the cities who had kids between the age of 2 to 5 years.

India is where parents are very concerned about their child’s health and nutrition right from birth. Nestle kept this in mind and decided to portray this care through its campaign. 

The brand portrayed how Indian mothers worry about their kids’ proper nourishment.

The brand came up with a new product, Caregrow, which controls a child’s hunger and offers all the essential nutrients for enhancing the child’s immunity and overall development.

4. Celebrate the Breakers- KitKat campaign

Across the world, people consume around 12 billion KitKat chocolates every year.

It is one of Nestle’s most famous chocolate products available in India. The company also released “KitKat Senses, a premium “slow-whipped” chocolate.

Nestle sought to influence Instagram to support its “Celebrate the Breakers” campaign by raising awareness and message association among enthusiastic 15- to 34-year-old Instagram followers.

Nestle came up with a new worldwide advertising campaign that takes a different approach altogether with a famous slogan, “Enjoy a break, enjoy a KitKat.”

“Celebrate the Breakers” was a new idea that identified the different forms of breaks that generally “breakers” take.

The animated movies showed KitKat chocolates are the best for enjoying a break in life.

Instagram was the appropriate platform for Nestle to showcase this idea graphically.

The brand posted a series of pictures with the hashtag “# mybreak over seven weeks ,” showing how people enjoy different types of breaks, like sleeping at their workplace, enjoying a party, or listening to their favorite music.

The images of KitKat match efficiently with its customers, as Instagram is a place where people share their daily moments and experiences.

Future Plans of Nestle

Nestle planned to invest Rs. 5,000 crores in India in the coming 3 ½ years, as per Mark Schneider, the company’s CEO.

The FMCG company, which has nearly 2,000 brands across the globe, believes that this initiative will help Nestle to improve its core business in India and enjoy new growth opportunities.

It marks the brand’s most significant investment in India since the year it started manufacturing.

Nestle is renowned in food, nutrition, health, and wellness.

Its competitive strategies mainly focus on overseas direct investment in ready-to-eat, dairy, and other food businesses.

Though there is rising competition, Nestle has remained on top for a long.

It maintains its dominance by balancing sales between high-risk and low-risk nations.

Over the years, Nestle has proven itself as a leader in the food and beverage industry with product innovation and innovative marketing strategies.

It creates campaigns that are memorable, relatable, and share-worthy.

As it is moving toward developing a solid presence in the future, digital marketing will play an essential role in the future growth of Nestle.

As Nestle continues to follow its values, mission, vision, and purpose, it will continue to grow. 

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Table of Contents

Learnings from nestle marketing strategies , 10 key takeaways from the nestle marketing strategy.

The mother bird feeds its two young nestlings, and below comes the 'Good Food, Good Life' slogan. With a US $303 billion value, the leading health, nutrition, and wellness company– Nestle, stands out in the market with strong customer loyalty. It is the world's 22nd most valuable company by market cap. The well-crafted and consistently implemented Nestle marketing strategy has helped the brand cater to the needs of its consumers and their families worldwide, helping them live healthier lifestyles. Learn the Nestle marketing strategy and carve a distinguished presence in the market.

Discover 10 important marketing tactics by exploring the Nestle marketing strategy. 

1. Appeal to Every Consumer with Multiple Price Strategies 

With an aim to be affordable for the masses, the Nestle marketing strategy incorporates multiple pricing tactics. 

Nestle KitKat Sizes with Different Prices

If you go through any of Nestle's products, say KitKat or Maggie, you will realize that they offer several packaging options. Thus, targeting different income groups, Nestle appeals to all. Its mini packs are loved by people living alone and those with a low income. Nestle's statistics reveal that a chunk of its revenues comes from its beverages—particularly premium Nescafe.

Key Takeaway: Opt for a multiple-price strategy to capture a wider audience and be available for all. With set market prices, you generate high sales with low earning margins. However, with premium products, you get high returns, but the low sales risk stays attached. Strike a balance between value-based and competitive pricing strategies to stay afloat.

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2. Having a Multifarious Portfolio Lowers Risk 

Thriving the tough competition is a challenge, especially in the FMCG industry. Nestle has been wisely using product diversification to survive with successful results.

Nestle Products

For instance, on the detection of a harmful ingredient, Maggie was banned in India. Nestle chose to go for a diversification spree; they revamped Maggie and added several more products to its portfolio. The company smartly introduces horizontal product diversification whenever it hits a wall. 

Maggi Products

From coffee to milkshakes to other beverages, breakfast cereals, seasonings, infant foods, soups, chocolates, refrigerated foods, and pet foods, Nestle offers a wide range of products. 

Key Takeaway: With a diverse portfolio, you can lower risks and enhance revenues. 

3. Product Mix Strategy Attracts Cost-Conscious Prospects

Nestle benefits from its large product line by employing a product mix strategy. It often releases buy-one-get-one price promotions, special offers, discounts, deals, and giveaways. 

Bundle deals are perfect for introducing a product or marketing unpopular items. The Nestle marketing strategy adopts bundle deals from time to time, often during festive seasons.

Key Takeaway: A product mix strategy allows you to increase the visibility of your low-growth products and make the premium ones appear affordable. It also helps you sell low-demand stock.

4. Set Consistent Goals 

With a clear vision, Nestle has been able to create a special space for itself for over 150+ years. The company doesn’t deviate from its original mission– Good Food, Food Life. Back in the 19th century, when Henri Nestlé studied the rise in infant deaths, he introduced nutrition-boosting baby formula. 

When women entered the workplace, Nestle launched instant meals. Even today, the brand targets everyday kitchen challenges and strives to improve the quality of life. 

Key Takeaways: A strong commitment to goals gives you a competitive advantage in the market. Being consistent in your message while solving the grievances of the people can help you gain brand loyalty.  

5. Try Product-Driven Advertising When You Have a Large Product Line

Although many brands prefer a customer-centric strategy, the Nestle marketing strategy is largely product-based as it has an extensive product line. 

For instance, Nestle’s KitKat advertisements are not limited to any age group. The brand presents the product as a light snack and rarely uses demographics to personalize the advertisements.

Key Takeaways: Brands belonging to the FMCG industry must opt for product-driven advertising to increase the visibility of their diverse product line.

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6. Localize Your Products 

Nestle efficiently adapts its products to the local market. For instance, in Japan, the company markets coffee-flavored candies. Since Japan is traditionally a tea-drinking nation, Nestle introduced these candies so that kids could develop a taste for coffee. Later it introduced Nescafe and KitKat, and they were widely accepted. Today, Japan has 300+ KitKat flavors. 

Nestle also localizes its products for Indians by introducing Maggi Atta Noodles, Maggi noodles without garlic and onion, and the Maggi Special Masala. 

Nestle Localized Products

Key Takeaways: Localization is a crucial part of business strategy that ensures the satisfaction of a wider customer base. 

7. Maintain Brand Equity With Consistent Brand Image

The more recognizable the name of a brand, the higher your brand value. Nestle has exceptionally strong brand equity as it focuses on its product quality and consistent brand image in its packaging.

The color red has been associated with KitKat for ages. Although the company once tried to change the color to blue in the 1990s, it didn’t work. They changed it to the classic red. 

Key Takeaways: Brand equity helps you earn customer loyalty and creates your unique identity, giving you a competitive advantage.

8. Co-Branding Comes With Profit

Haven’t you come across Android KitKat and Nespresso Capsules? The Nestle marketing strategy also incorporates co-branding as and when needed.

Nestle collaborated with Google and launched an operating system named Android KitKat. The brand was facing a pet product scandal, and this move overshadowed the crisis.

Recently, Nestle joined hands with Starbucks and entered the new product development phase. Together they launched Starbucks Nespresso Capsules.

Key Takeaways: If your brand reaches a stagnant position, hunt for companies that complement your products and opt for co-branding promotions. It is an excellent strategy to broaden your reach. 

9. Promote Sustainability To Create a Mark 

The Nestle marketing strategy constitutes special efforts for sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint.

Recently, Nestle announced its aim to use food-grade recycled plastics. It also plans to invest over 700 million in Nescafe’s sustainable coffee production. It took the initiative to fight against deforestation.

Nestle Climate Change Efforts

Thus, consistent efforts have made Nestle a globally recognized sustainable brand. It was recognized by UN Global Compact for its efforts.  

Key Takeaways: Sustainability imprints a positive impact on your brand. The efforts help you take on a fair share of ethical responsibility while subtly shifting environment-conscious people’s minds toward your brand.

10. Digital Marketing is a World of Success

Nestle posts quality content on each of its brands’ YouTube channels. It has informative ‘how-to’ videos, cooking tips, product insights, and more.  

Its ‘Meri Maggi’ page gained up to 571,000 subscribers. The Nestle marketing strategy relies heavily on video content. It also has other established avenues for sharing information, such as the search engine optimized Nestle child nutrition website.

It serves as a comprehensive guide on nutrition for mothers. It also features a community aspect in addition to the expert advice section. 

Nestle Child Nutrition Website Content

Nestle also employs consistent efforts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. It runs campaigns and posts eye-catching images and videos while also benefiting from the influencer community.

Key Takeaways: Leverage the power of digital platforms for marketing your business. It is a great way to engage your customers and help them beyond selling products.

The Nestle marketing strategy has enough in store for startups and established brands to learn from. Want to learn more? Enroll in our Digital Marketing Program and secure exciting digital marketing jobs in top tech companies.

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Strategic Management Analysis - case study of nestle

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Nestle Marketing Strategy: A Case Study

Nestle is one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies with a presence in 191 countries . The company has a diverse product portfolio that ranges from pet food to baby food, and from coffee to confectionery. Nestle’s marketing strategy has played a crucial role in the company’s success over the years . In this article, we will take a closer look at Nestle’s marketing strategy and how it has contributed to the company’s growth.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The introduction will give an overview of Nestle and its products.

Nestle is a Swiss multinational food and beverage company that was founded in 1866 by Henri Nestle. Today, Nestle has a presence in 191 countries and employs over 300,000 people . Nestle’s product portfolio includes pet food, baby food, coffee, confectionery, and many other products.

Market Segmentation

Market segmentation is a crucial element of Nestle’s marketing strategy. The company targets different segments of the market with different products.

Geographic Segmentation

Nestle operates in 191 countries, and the company tailors its products to meet the needs and preferences of customers in each country.

Demographic Segmentation

Nestle’s products are designed to cater to different age groups and genders. For example, the company’s baby food products are designed for infants, while its confectionery products are designed for adults.

Psychographic Segmentation

Nestle’s marketing strategy also targets customers based on their lifestyle and personality. For example, the company’s premium coffee products are targeted at customers who value quality and are willing to pay a premium price for it.

Product Mix

Nestle’s product mix is diverse and includes different types of products, including food, beverage, and pet care products. The company has a large number of brands in its product portfolio.

Product Line Extension

Nestle uses product line extensions to expand its product portfolio. For example, the company has launched different flavors of its KitKat chocolate bar in different countries.

Product Innovation

Nestle invests heavily in product innovation to meet the changing needs and preferences of customers. For example, the company has launched plant-based meat products under its Garden Gourmet brand.

Pricing Strategy

Nestle’s pricing strategy is designed to cater to different segments of the market. The company uses different pricing strategies for different products.

Value-Based Pricing

Nestle uses value-based pricing for its premium products, such as its Nespresso coffee machines. The company sets a premium price for these products to reflect their quality and value.

Penetration Pricing

Nestle uses penetration pricing for some of its products, such as its instant coffee products. The company sets a low price for these products to penetrate the market and gain market share.

Promotion Strategy

Nestle’s promotion strategy is designed to create brand awareness and increase sales.

Advertising

Nestle uses different types of advertising, including TV, print, and online advertising, to reach its target audience .

Sales Promotion

Nestle uses sales promotions, such as discounts and free samples, to encourage customers to try its products.

Public Relations

Nestle uses public relations to enhance its corporate image and build brand trust. For example, the company has launched initiatives to support sustainable agriculture.

Distribution Strategy

Nestle’s distribution strategy is designed to ensure that its products are available to customers in different parts of the world.

Direct Distribution

Nestle uses direct distribution for some of its products, such as its Nespresso coffee capsules. The company sells these products directly to customers through its online store.

Indirect Distribution

Nestle also uses indirect distribution channels, such as supermarkets and convenience. stores, to reach a wider customer base. The company partners with distributors and retailers to ensure that its products are available in different parts of the world.

Digital Marketing

In recent years, Nestle has increased its focus on digital marketing to reach its target audience.

Social Media Marketing

Nestle uses social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, to promote its products and engage with customers.

Content Marketing

Nestle uses content marketing to provide customers with information about its products and educate them about their benefits.

Nestle’s marketing strategy has played a crucial role in the company’s success over the years. The company’s market segmentation, product mix, pricing strategy, promotion strategy, and distribution strategy are all designed to cater to the needs and preferences of its target audience. Additionally, Nestle’s focus on digital marketing has helped the company reach a wider audience and engage with customers in new ways.

What is Nestle’s marketing strategy?

Nestle’s marketing strategy is designed to cater to the needs and preferences of its target audience through market segmentation, product mix, pricing strategy, promotion strategy, and distribution strategy.

How does Nestle use market segmentation in its marketing strategy?

Nestle targets different segments of the market based on geographic, demographic, and psychographic factors.

What is Nestle’s product mix?

Nestle’s product mix includes food, beverage, and pet care products, among others.

What pricing strategies does Nestle use?

Nestle uses value-based pricing for premium products and penetration pricing for some of its other products.

How does Nestle use digital marketing in its marketing strategy?

Nestle uses social media marketing and content marketing to reach its target audience and engage with customers in new ways.

Other Reads

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Puma Marketing Strategy: The Case Study

Pepsi Marketing Strategy: The Case Study

McDonald’s marketing strategy: A benchmark in the fast food industry

Nike Marketing Strategy: The Case Study (Just Do It)

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• State of the Union
• Risk Factors
• Bottom Line
• Supporting your Customers

Let’s Get Your Foodservices Business Thriving Again

Facing the facts: foodservices industry forecasts 4.9% growth in 2022*.

COVID-19 continues to shake up the food industry. But Nestlé's focus on agility, efficiency and dependability is the right move. A cloud-native digital pricing solution can help by automating lower-value tasks, unlocking key insights and driving growth. Especially right now, as the fight for manufacturing capacity to meet surging retail demands threatens the restaurant and hospitality sectors. With margins continuing to dwindle, your first instinct may be to cut costs. But, is this the best move? Before we talk about a better strategy, let’s look at the margin leaks that may be taking a bite out of your bottom line.

* According to the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association

A Foodservice Industry State of the Union

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Pricing Not a Priority? See How It Can Reduce Risk and Add Efficiency

External factors draining profit.

Despite Nestlé's great resilience and dependability during the worst of COVID – there are a number of factors out of your control that may still be impacting your margins right now. Here are a few:

Currency Fluctuations

Fast-changing consumer needs.

Both a rapidly evolving digital landscape and increasing nutrition, health and wellness concerns.

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Energy and commodity price increases and raw material shortages are creating slowdowns.

 Increased Safety Requirements

Huge undertaking to enhance employee safety and plant sanitization per new pandemic protocols.

Internal Factors Possibly at Play

These are the common factors at many companies, regardless of industry, that cut into profits. You might spot a few familiar ones.

Lack of True-Cost Visibility

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Minimizing Loss and Improving Margins.

Yes, even now.

Before you jump to discounting your prices, consider this. A recent McKinsey study found a 1% increase in price (if demand stays consistent) increases operating profit by an average of 8.7%. The opposite also holds true. So what can you do instead?

Start with data.  Get a clear understanding of where money is leaking and exactly how much revenue is gained from every transaction.

Gather intelligence.  Avoid the hype and rely instead on what your customers are saying.

Don’t rush to drop prices.  Pricing software can help you find weaknesses and opportunities.

Test for full visibility. Testing different market strategies shows you exactly how any small change will impact your bottom line.

Launch your strategy.  Choose the best test strategy for your overall goals and circumstances.

Pricing with Excel and Other Ways to Lose Money

Cloud-based pricing: the secret ingredient to growing profit, how the pricefx solution can help recover your margins, what your foodservice operators want from you right now.

One of the best ways to help your customers is to understand their mindset. Here are a few ways food operators are looking to respond and modify their business models post-pandemic.

• Greater supply chain transparency and tracking to understand their supply chain and sourcing risks. This is a move many operators have already taken and will continue.
• Increased focus on disaster planning, including contingency planning and risk mitigation.
• Increased domestic and local sourcing to reduce the risk and dependency on foreign suppliers.
• More packaged solutions that lower labor requirements.
• Stronger long-term relationships with suppliers to reduce risk and avoid costly changes.

Know Which Foodservice Products to Prioritize and Optimize

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John gilbo - enterprise account executive, food & beverage.