VEVEY, SWITZERLAND:
Nine-Month 2021 Results
- Organic growth reached 7.6%, with real internal growth (RIG) of 6.0% and pricing of 1.6%. Growth was supported by continued momentum in retail sales, steady recovery of out-of-home channels, increased pricing and market share gains.
- Total reported sales increased by 2.2% to CHF 63.3 billion ($68.9 billion). Foreign exchange reduced sales by 2.0%. Net divestitures reduced sales by 3.3%.
- Continued progress in portfolio management. On August 9, 2021, Nestlé completed the acquisition of the core brands of The Bountiful Company.
- Full-year guidance for 2021 updated: we expect full-year organic sales growth between 6% and 7%. The underlying trading operating profit margin is expected around 17.5%, reflecting initial time delays between input cost inflation and pricing, as well as the one-off integration costs related to the acquisition of The Bountiful Company's core brands. Beyond 2021, our mid-term outlook for continued moderate margin improvement remains unchanged. Underlying earnings per share in constant currency and capital efficiency are expected to increase this year.
Group Sales
Organic growth reached 7.6%, with RIG of 6.0%. Pricing increased to 1.6%, accelerating to 2.1% in the third quarter.
Growth was broad-based across most geographies and categories. Organic growth reached 7.1% in developed markets, based mostly on RIG with positive pricing. Organic growth in emerging markets was 8.3%, with robust RIG and positive pricing.
By product category, the largest contributor to organic growth was coffee, fueled by strong momentum for the three main brands Nescafé, Nespresso and Starbucks. Starbucks products posted 15.5% growth, with sales reaching CHF 2.2 billion across 79 markets. Purina PetCare saw double-digit growth, led by science-based and premium brands Purina Pro Plan, Fancy Feast and Purina ONE, as well as veterinary products. Prepared dishes and cooking aids posted high single-digit growth, based on strong sales developments for Maggi, Stouffer's and Lean Cuisine. Vegetarian and plant-based food offerings saw double-digit growth, with continued expansion of the product range, led by Garden Gourmet. Dairy reported mid single-digit growth, based on sustained demand for fortified milks, coffee creamers and ice cream. Confectionery recorded high single-digit growth, supported by a strong sales development for KitKat. Sales in Nestlé Health Science grew at a double-digit rate, reflecting strong demand for consumer care products particularly vitamins, minerals and supplements. Infant Nutrition posted negative growth, impacted by lower birth rates globally in the context of the pandemic and a sales decline in China. In the third quarter, growth in Infant Nutrition was positive outside of China. Water reported mid single-digit growth, with strong demand in North America and emerging markets in the third quarter.
By channel, organic growth in retail sales was 6.6%. E-commerce sales grew by 17.2%, reaching 14.1% of total Group sales, with strong momentum in most categories, particularly coffee, Purina PetCare and culinary. Organic growth in out-of-home channels was 22.8%, helped by the further easing of movement restrictions in some geographies.
Net divestitures decreased sales by 3.3%, largely related to the Nestlé Waters North America, Yinlu and Herta transactions. Divestitures were partially offset by acquisitions, including Freshly and the core brands of The Bountiful Company. The negative impact on sales from foreign exchange moderated to 2.0%. Total reported sales increased by 2.2% to CHF 63.3 billion.
Portfolio Management
Nestlé is transforming its global water business, sharpening its focus on international premium and mineral water brands and healthy hydration products. In March, Nestlé completed the acquisition of Essentia Water, a premium functional water brand in the U.S., and the sale of its regional spring water brands, purified water business and beverage delivery service in the U.S. and Canada.
Nestlé Health Science continues to focus on building a nutrition and health powerhouse. On August 9, 2021, Nestlé completed the acquisition of the core brands of The Bountiful Company for USD 5.75 billion. The Bountiful Company is the number one pure-play leader in the highly attractive and growing global nutrition and supplement category. In July, Nestlé completed the acquisition of Nuun, a leading company in the fast-growing functional hydration market, and entered into an agreement with Seres Therapeutics to jointly commercialize SER-109, an investigational oral microbiome therapeutic in the U.S. and Canada.
Building on the successful global coffee alliance, Nestlé continues to expand the reach of Starbucks branded coffee and tea products outside Starbucks retail stores. In July, Nestlé and Starbucks announced a new collaboration to bring Starbucks ready-to-drink coffee beverages to select markets across South-East Asia, Oceania and Latin America.
Zone Americas (AMS)
- 8.4% organic growth: 5.2% RIG; 3.2% pricing.
- North America posted mid single-digit organic growth, with robust RIG and positive pricing.
- Latin America reported double-digit organic growth, with both strong RIG and pricing.
Organic growth was 8.4%, with strong RIG of 5.2% supported by volume and mix. Pricing increased to 3.2%, accelerating to 5.0% in the third quarter. Net divestitures reduced sales by 6.0%, as the divestment of the Nestlé Waters North America brands more than offset the acquisitions of Freshly and Essentia Water. Foreign exchange had a negative impact of 3.9%. Reported sales in Zone AMS decreased by 1.5% to CHF 24.6 billion.
Zone AMS reported high single-digit organic growth, building on a strong sales development in 2020. Increased pricing, continued innovation, strong momentum in e-commerce and a further recovery of out-of-home channels supported growth. The Zone saw continued broad-based market share gains, led by coffee, pet food and dairy.
North America posted mid single-digit growth in the context of significant supply chain constraints. Sales in Purina PetCare grew at a high single-digit rate, led by Purina Pro Plan, Fancy Feast and Purina ONE. Purina Pro Plan LiveClear, the breakthrough allergen-reducing cat food, continued to see strong momentum and expanded its range to cover all life stages. Nestlé Professional and Starbucks out-of-home products saw strong double-digit growth, helped by a low base of comparison. Frozen and chilled food reported mid single-digit growth. Strong sales developments for Stouffer's, Lean Cuisine, Freshly and Hot Pockets were partially offset by a sales decrease in pizza, following a high base of comparison in 2020. Sales in the beverages category, including Starbucks at-home products, Coffee mate and Nescafé, grew at a mid single-digit rate. Water reported mid single-digit growth, accelerating to a double-digit rate in the third quarter with a strong sales development for Essentia. Home-baking products, including Toll House and Carnation, saw a sales decline following exceptional demand in 2020.
Latin America posted double-digit growth, with broad-based contributions across geographies and most product categories. Sales in Mexico grew at a double-digit rate, led by Nescafé and confectionery brands Carlos V and KitKat. Brazil reported double-digit growth, reflecting strong demand for confectionery, coffee and fortified milks. Chile also recorded double-digit growth, supported by confectionery and ice cream. By product category, the largest contributor to growth was Purina PetCare with strong sales developments across all brands, markets and channels. Sales in confectionery, coffee, particularly Nescafé Dolce Gusto, and Nestlé Professional all grew at a strong double-digit rate. Growth in dairy moderated to a low single-digit rate, following exceptionally strong demand in 2020 particularly for home cooking and baking products. Infant Nutrition saw mid single-digit growth, accelerating to a high single-digit rate in the third quarter based on robust demand for new premium and functional products.
Zone Europe, Middle-East and North Africa (EMENA)
- 7.2% organic growth: 6.4% RIG; 0.8% pricing.
- Western Europe saw mid single-digit organic growth with strong RIG and slightly negative pricing.
- Central and Eastern Europe posted double-digit organic growth, with strong RIG and positive pricing.
- Middle East and North Africa reported high single-digit organic growth, with a balanced contribution from RIG and pricing.
Zone Asia, Oceania and sub-Saharan Africa (AOA)
- 4.1% organic growth: 3.9% RIG; 0.2% pricing.
- China posted low single-digit organic growth, based on positive RIG and slightly negative pricing.
- South-East Asia saw slightly negative organic growth, with negative RIG and pricing.
- South Asia reported double-digit organic growth, with strong RIG and positive pricing.
- Sub-Saharan Africa recorded double-digit organic growth, led by strong RIG with positive pricing.
- Japan, South Korea and Oceania saw mid single-digit organic growth. Strong RIG was partially offset by negative pricing.
