A Message From Paul Grimwood, Nestlé USA Chairman And CEO

Nestlé in the United States is pleased to share our 2014 Creating Shared Value Report focusing on our core themes: Nutrition, Health and Wellness; environmental impact; and social impact. 

Since the beginning of our journey nearly 150 years ago, Creating Shared Value has been at the very heart of how we operate in the present and plan for the future. We firmly believe that to create value for our shareholders we must create value for society, and we embed that philosophy in everything we do. 

Nestlé takes a uniquely long-term view when it comes to setting our strategy. This allows us to take positions and make commitments that might otherwise seem unfeasible. We are investing heavily in research and technology because innovation and improvement is embedded in Nestlé’s DNA. Our investments in nutrition science, water-saving technology, our supply chains and our people are designed to deliver long-term results to our business and society as a whole. 

As the world’s largest food and beverage company, our scale provides a platform to create immense positive impact. With 97% of households in the United States purchasing Nestlé brands, our work over the last 10 years to reduce sugar, sodium and saturated fat and remove trans fats from our products without sacrificing taste impacts millions of consumers striving for better health, and we are proud of our achievements. 

Nestlé understands that a company of our size can help move the needle on environmental issues. That’s why we stepped forward in the fall of 2014, alongside other companies, to endorse the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to dramatically reduce carbon emissions at the nation’s power plants. By switching to cleaner fuels, using sustainably managed renewable energy sources and optimizing our distribution networks, Nestlé is helping to bring about the change needed for the health of our planet and all of its inhabitants. 

With Nutrition, Health and Wellness at Nestlé’s core, we understand that the first 1,000 days—from pregnancy through a child’s first two years—are a critical window of opportunity to shape healthier futures. That’s why Nestlé issued a global Maternity Protection Policy, which our U.S. businesses are implementing as the Parental Support Policy. Effective January 1, 2016, we’re extending parental leave benefits for primary caregivers of newborns, and we hope to see more of our peers follow our lead. We are proud of our progress, but this is no time for complacency. We’re contemplating how we will continue to evolve and create shared value over the next 150 years. We encourage you to read through this report and welcome any feedback you may have.

Paul Grimwood 
Chairman and CEO of Nestlé USA