Nestlé will cut 16,000 jobs worldwide over the next two years — about 6% of its global workforce — as part of a major restructuring plan aimed at boosting growth and cutting costs. The layoffs include 12,000 office roles and 4,000 in manufacturing and supply chains.
“The world is changing and Nestlé needs to change faster,” said new CEO Philipp Navratil, who took over after the dismissal of Laurent Freixe last month. The company aims to save 3 billion Swiss francs (£2.8 billion) by 2027, up from its previous goal of 2.5 billion francs.
Nestlé, which owns brands such as KitKat, Nescafé, and Purina, reported a 1.9% drop in sales to 65.9 billion francs for the first nine months of the year, largely due to currency effects. Organic growth rose 3.3%, led by coffee and confectionery, though inflation and rising input costs drove much of the increase.
Navratil said Nestlé would become “bolder” in investing and innovation while creating a stronger performance culture. Analysts say his swift action signals a clear shift in strategy after years of slowing growth.
