Confectionery was one of the company’s best-performing categories, achieving an 8.0% organic growth led by KitKat. This was despite an overall organic growth of 3.3%, with real internal growth (RIG) at 0.6% and pricing steady at 2.8%.
‘Strategic Focus on Growth and Efficiency’
In a statement accompanying the results, which revealed a sales decline in the first nine months of 2025, Nestlé said it is prioritising growth investments and 'operational efficiency to enhance performance and shareholder value'.
New CEO Philipp Navratil emphasised the need for RIG-led growth and increased investment.
The company’s planned headcount reduction of approximately 16,000 over two years aims to save CHF 3.0 billion ($3.7bn) by 2027 as it focuses on rigorous resource allocation and innovation to drive growth.
“Driving RIG-led growth is our number one priority. We have been stepping up investment to achieve this, and the results are starting to come through. Now we must do more and move faster to accelerate our growth momentum,” said Navratil.
“The world is changing, and Nestlé needs to change faster. This will include making hard but necessary decisions to reduce headcount over the next two years. We will do this with respect and transparency.”
Navratil replaced Laurent Freixe, who was dismissed in September as chief executive over an undisclosed relationship with a colleague. At the end of the month, Chairman Paul Bulcke stepped down early to make way for former Inditex chief Pablo Isla.