Nestle First-Quarter Sales Rise 4.4 Percent

Western Europe and other developed markets’ growth accelerated, while the Group's emerging markets achieved over 10% organic growth, with a particularly strong performance in BRIC countries and a sustained contribution from our popularly positioned products.

22 Apr 2010 --- In the first quarter of 2010, the Nestlé Group’s organic growth stood at 6.5%, including real internal growth of 4.8%. Foreign exchange impacted sales by -2.7%, while acquisitions, net of divestitures, added 0.6%. Overall, Group sales increased by 4.4%, to CHF 26.3 billion. Food and Beverages’ organic growth reached 6.1%, including real internal growth of 4.5%. Foreign exchange impacted Food and Beverages’ sales by -2.6%, while acquisitions, net of divestitures, added 0.7%. Overall, Food and Beverages’ sales were up 4.2%, to CHF 24.3 billion.

The organic growth of Nestlé Food and Beverages was 4.6% in the Americas, 5.1% in Europe and 11.2% in Asia, Oceania and Africa. This confirms the momentum gathered in the latter part of 2009, with all regions contributing. Western Europe and other developed markets’ growth accelerated, while the Group's emerging markets achieved over 10% organic growth, with a particularly strong performance in BRIC countries and a sustained contribution from our popularly positioned products, providing affordable, nutritious products for emerging consumers.

Paul Bulcke, Nestlé CEO: “Our strong sales performance in the first quarter confirms we are capturing opportunities in our different growth pillars, both in emerging and developed markets, even in a global economic environment which remains challenging. By keeping the initiative and with appropriate pricing, we are building our market positions in different categories as part of our long-term, disciplined commitment to sustainable, profitable growth. We continue to increase investment in our brands, our innovation and new manufacturing and distribution capabilities, and will further drive our efficiency programmes across the world. I therefore reconfirm our outlook for 2010, both top and bottom line improvement.”