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Taming the Nestlé monster at the last Croydon demo

Campaigners gathered for the annual boycott demonstration at Nestlé (UK) HQ in Croydon, prior to the company’s relocation to Gatwick and faced the Nestlé monster - a costume dinosaur representing the company, which tramples on the rights of mothers and babies - unless we take action to stop it. Look out for the film clip online.

Campaigners distributed "Fight the Nestlé monster" leaflets with ten facts executives do not want people to know. The leaflet included an QR code for smartphones to access further details. Click here to download the leaflet.

Nestle tries to undermine International Nestle-Free Week with KitKat pledge

In an attempt to divert attention from International Nestlé-Free Week (29 October - 4 November 2012), Nestlé announced that its two-finger KitKat chocolate bars will bear the Fairtrade logo - from January 2013. International Nestlé-Free Week is a time for people who boycott Nestlé over the way it pushes baby milk to do more to promote the boycott - and for those who don’t boycott to give it a go.

According to statements from Nestlé and the Fairtrade Foundation a total of 7,000 farmers will provide cocoa for KitKat under Fairtrade terms, up from the 6,000 announced in 2009 when only the four-finger KitKat had the Fairtrade mark (though, curiously, the latest statements claim the initial number of farmers was 2,500). 

The 9,600 tonnes of cocoa Nestlé says it will buy through the Fairtrade scheme amounts to 2.6% of its annual cocoa purchase (about 364,000 tonnes). It has been criticised for failing to deliver on its 2001 commitment to end child slavery and child labour in the supply chain as a whole within five years. Baby Milk Action has produced a leaflet explaining "Why boycott Nestlé Fairtrade KitKat" with key facts on the baby milk issue, as well as concerns about Nestlé’s sourcing of cocoa and other business practices - click here for this and other leaflets.

Rachel’s Dairy added to Nestlé boycott list

Rachel’s Dairy has been added to the Nestlé boycott list for the UK as it is now owned by Lactalis Nestlé Chilled Dairy (LNCD). Lactalis purchased Rachel’s Dairy in August 2010. In May 2012 the organic yoghurt and dairy product company was moved into LNCD, which is a joint venture with Nestlé. Lactalis owns 60% of LNCD and Nestlé 40%.

US Girl Scouts shamed by association with Nestle

The US Girl Scouts put its name to a Nestlé candy bar marketing campaign that ran in August 2012 to boost sales in September. Campaigners called on Girl Scouts to ditch Nestlé and send a message of solidarity to women in the Philippines instead. (See page 16).

Nestlé was also criticised for breaking a commitment in the US not to target children with junk food advertising, but claimed that although the adverts featured a Girl Scout they were aimed at adults.

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