Nestlé Group delivers profitable growth in 2015

Total sales were CHF 88.8 bn, with a foreign exchange impact of minus 7.4%. Acquisitions, net of divestitures, added 0.1% to sales. Organic growth was broad-based across geographies and categories: 5.8% in the Americas (AMS), 3.5% in Europe, Middle East and North Africa (EMENA), and 1.9% in Asia, Oceania and sub-Saharan Africa (AOA). The exceptional performance relative to the environment in Western Europe was driven by successful innovation and renovation. France, Germany and Benelux were the highlights and Spain accelerated.

According to Nestlé, net profit was CHF 9.1 bn. The reduction of CHF 5.4 bn versus last year was mostly due to the one-off impact from the disposal in 2014 of part of the L‘Oréal stake combined with the revaluation of the Galderma stake. There was also some effect from foreign exchange.Paul Bulcke, Nestlé CEO, said: ”In 2015 we delivered profitable growth at the higher end of the industry in what is still a challenging environment”.

Nestlé‘s confectionery unit achieved an organic growth of 6.2%, full-year sales in this category were CHF 8.87 bn. The trading operation margin was 14.0% (+ 20 basis points). Organic growth in the product group milk products and ice cream was 1.7% with sales of CHF 14.64 bn. The trading operating margin was 16.9% (+ 180 basis points).