MAM
Nestle internal report damns 60 per cent of its own food portfolio
Mumbai: Global food major Nestle promises – Good food, good life. But is the parent company of household names like Maggi, Milkmaid, Kitkat, Nescafé, Nestea iced tea et al true to its word? An internal document leak from the firm revealed that more than 60 per cent of its food portfolio does not meet health standards.
An internal presentation circulated among top executives of Nestle earlier this year revealed that more than 60 percent of Nestle’s mainstream food and drinks portfolio did not meet the recognised definition of health, Financial Times has reported. This excludes products like pet food, baby food and specialised medical nutrition.
The report also mentions that 96 per cent of its beverages excluding pure coffee, and as much as 99 per cent of its confectionery and ice cream portfolio also failed to meet the mark.
The company has acknowledged that only 37 per cent of Nestle’s food and beverage products had a rating of over 3.5 out of 5, as per Australia’s health star rating system.
The most damning part in the report, however, is that the processed foods giant admits that some of its products will never be healthy, no matter how much it renovates.
In response, Nestlé issued a statement to say it is “working on a company-wide project to update its pioneering nutrition and health strategy”. It further said: “We are looking at our entire portfolio across the different phases of people’s lives to ensure our products are helping meet their nutritional needs and supporting a balanced diet.”
In its defence, the world’s largest food maker said that efforts were ongoing over decades to improve the nutritional footprint of its products, stating, “For example, we have reduced the sugars and sodium in our products significantly in the past two decades, about 14-15 per cent in the past seven years alone.” According to the FT, Nestle plans to unveil a new strategy this year.
Processed foods were never considered healthy to begin with, but in light of these revelations, there is now a renewed scrutiny on these products.
In today’s times when healthy living is the key buzzword and the biggest selling point globally, the last thing a food company would want is to be labelled as unhealthy!
On its part, Nestle India issued a statement stating: “Nestle India believes that nutrition is a fundamental need and the food industry has a vital role to play in enabling healthier lives. Driven by our purpose, we are constantly striving to increase the nutrient profile of our products as well as innovate with new and nutritious offerings”.
As far as Nestle India’s portfolio is concerned, it is somewhat different from its parent company with only nine out of Nestle’s 35 billionaire brands having a presence in India. Hence the news may not have much of an impact here.
Certainly not as much as the Maggi crisis, which the brand tided over, and that had literally threatened its very existence in the country back in 2015. Maggi Noodles, which contributed over 25 per cent of the company’s revenue in India, was accused of having lead content beyond permissible levels.
Despite the bad news reports it generated for the popular snack brand, with its reputation taking a huge cut, it has bounced right back regaining its market share in the country.
Even while most people are well aware that instant noodles and processed foods are unhealthy, they continue to consume them. Maggi may be the best example but it’s far from being the only one. The whole consumer packaged foods industry needs to take a good hard look at itself, if it wishes to remain relevant in a woke world, with consumers becoming increasingly health-conscious.
Whether this latest controversy around one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies will have any impact or effect any long-term changes in the packaged foods industry remains to be seen.
Brands
KPMG names Gary Wingrove as global chairman and CEO from October
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MUMBAI: KPMG has chosen continuity with a forward tilt. The firm has announced that Gary Wingrove will take over as global chairman and CEO of KPMG International, beginning a four year term from 1 October 2026. Currently serving as global chief operating officer, Wingrove steps into the top role after being nominated by the global board and elected by the global council.
A KPMG veteran with over 25 years at the firm, Wingrove has been closely involved in shaping its recent trajectory. As global COO, he has helped drive the firm’s Collective Strategy, focusing on operational integration, global investments and the steady expansion of the KPMG Delivery Network. He has also been at the forefront of KPMG’s digital push, including the rollout of AI enabled solutions across its global operations.
Before his global role, Wingrove served as CEO of KPMG Australia for nearly a decade, where he led a period of strong growth, almost doubling revenue, profitability and headcount while steering a cultural reset.
He succeeds Bill Thomas, who has led KPMG since 2017 and will work alongside Wingrove over the next six months to ensure a smooth transition.
Thomas leaves behind a firm that looks markedly different from when he took charge. Under his leadership, KPMG’s global revenues have risen by 55 per cent, and its workforce has expanded to more than 276,000 people. He also unified the network of member firms under the Collective Strategy, aligning priorities and strengthening governance.
His tenure saw heavy investment in technology and partnerships, with alliances spanning Microsoft, Google Cloud, SAP, Oracle and ServiceNow. These collaborations, along with platforms like KPMG Clara, have helped the firm scale its AI-led offerings and sharpen its competitive edge.
Beyond growth, Thomas also pushed improvements in audit quality and sustainability. Initiatives such as a multiyear global sustainability strategy and the Our Impact Plan have aimed to embed long term thinking into the firm’s operations and client services.
For Wingrove, the brief is clear but evolving. He has signalled a focus on agility, deep expertise and technology driven solutions as clients navigate an increasingly complex business landscape. He also emphasised KPMG’s identity as a people first organisation, supported by technology and unified through its global network.
The timing of the leadership change comes as KPMG continues to grow, reporting a 5.1 per cent rise in global revenue in FY25, with gains across tax and legal, audit and advisory services. Growth was recorded across all regions, despite a challenging macro environment.
As Wingrove prepares to take charge, the firm appears set on a familiar path with a sharper digital edge. Same playbook, perhaps, but with a renewed focus on speed, scale and smarter solutions.
