Nestle CEO outlines new road map for "very attractive" India market

India is set to be one of Nestle SA’s top five markets by revenue in the near term, as the Swiss food and beverage major steps up investments to tap rising consumption, urbanisation and the expansion of the middle class, the company's chief executive Philipp Navratil said during his visit to the country.

India is already among Nestle’s 10 largest markets and was the company’s strongest-performing market by growth in the first half of 2026.

India’s entry into the top five was not a long-term aspiration stretching over decades, but an objective that could be achieved relatively soon, PTI quoted Navratil as saying. The company expects growth in the market to remain largely volume-driven, backed by investments in manufacturing and distribution, he said.


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India’s scale, expanding consumer base and deep distribution network make it one of the most attractive growth opportunities within the Nestle group, he said. Rising urbanisation and the expected increase in the number of middle-class consumers are also likely to support demand across categories, he added.

India as export hub

Nestle also plans to expand India’s role as a manufacturing and export base for its global operations.

Nestle India currently ships products to more than 30 countries, and the company sees scope to increase both the number of markets served and the scale of exports. Greater utilisation of Indian manufacturing facilities would also help the company benefit from the country’s large production base.

Nestle operates nine manufacturing facilities in India and is developing a tenth plant in Odisha. The company had announced a Rs 5,000 crore investment programme for India in 2022.

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Navratil said future investment in India would be higher than the group average if the country continues to grow faster than Nestle globally. While he did not disclose a fresh investment figure, he said the company remained prepared to commit capital for long-term expansion.

Focus on volume-led growth

Nestle’s India strategy is centred on real internal growth, with the company looking to expand its consumer base while also offering products across different price points.

The company sees opportunities at both the value and premium ends of the market. Its approach includes increasing penetration, bringing more households into its consumer base and premiumising products without losing focus on affordability.

Nestle’s global business had highlighted strong double-digit growth in India during the June quarter, with the market emerging as a key contributor to the performance of its Asia, Oceania and Africa region.

The company has outlined five broad priorities for India. These include strengthening its product portfolio, improving operational efficiency, building a performance-oriented culture and maintaining real internal growth led by volumes and pricing.

Long-term India play

Navratil, who took over as Nestle SA’s CEO in September 2025, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week along with Nestle India managing director Manish Tiwary. The discussions covered the company’s continued investment and its role in India’s growth and development.

However, the CEO said Nestle would not compromise on product quality or rush its expansion plans merely to accelerate growth.

The company, which has operated in India for 114 years, intends to maintain a consumer-first approach as it expands its presence. Navratil said the company’s growth plans would therefore be pursued at a pace that allows consumers to adapt to new products and offerings.

With India already among Nestle’s fastest-growing markets, the company’s immediate focus is to convert strong demand, manufacturing scale and wider distribution into sustained growth, Navratil said. That could bring the country closer to becoming one of Nestle’s five biggest markets globally, he observed.