Editing Nestlé (section)

===1990–2011: International growth===
The first half of the 1990s proved to be favourable for Nestlé. Trade barriers crumbled, and world markets developed into more or less integrated trading areas. Since 1996, there have been various acquisitions, including [[S.Pellegrino|San Pellegrino]] (1997), [[D'Onofrio (brand)|D'Onofrio]] (1997), [[Spillers|Spillers Petfoods]] (1998), and [[Ralston Purina]] (2002). There were two major acquistions in North America, both in 2002&nbsp;– in June, Nestlé merged its US ice cream business into [[Dreyer's]], and in August, a {{US$|2.6{{nbsp}}billion|link=yes}} acquisition was announced of [[Chef America]], the creator of [[Hot Pockets]]. In the same time-frame, Nestlé entered in a joint bid with Cadbury and came close to purchasing the American company [[The Hershey Company|Hershey's]], one of its fiercest confectionery competitors, but the deal eventually fell through.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/1e5450d2-2be5-11df-8033-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3PhCW9iAy |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210221231/https://www.ft.com/content/1e5450d2-2be5-11df-8033-00144feabdc0#axzz3PhCW9iAy |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |title=The inside story of the Cadbury takeover |newspaper=Financial Times |access-date=5 August 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1999, Nestlé sold the Findus brand to the Swedish firm [[EQT AB]].<ref>{{cite news |date=17 April 1999 |title=Swedish keen to fish Findus from plughole |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5245/is_7401_222/ai_n28750359/ |access-date=13 January 2011 |publisher=BNET}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=25 October 1999 |title=A&O and CC advise on Nestle Findus sell-off |url=http://www.thelawyer.com/ao-and-cc-advise-on-nestle-findus-sell-off/87641.article |access-date=9 February 2013 |publisher=The Lawyer}}</ref>

In December 2005, Nestlé bought the Greek company Delta Ice Cream for €240 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nestle.com/media/pressreleases/allpressreleases/greeceacquisitiondeltaicecream-19dec05|title=Nestlé To Acquire Greek-Based Delta Ice Cream|website=Nestlé Global|date=19 December 2005|access-date=10 August 2021|archive-date=10 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810200254/https://www.nestle.com/media/pressreleases/allpressreleases/greeceacquisitiondeltaicecream-19dec05|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2006, it took full ownership of Dreyer's, thus becoming the world's largest ice cream maker, with a 17.5% market share.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4627810.stm |title=Nestlé takes world ice cream lead |work=BBC News |date=19 January 2006 |access-date=22 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203091304/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4627810.stm |archive-date=3 February 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2006, Nestlé purchased weight-loss company [[Jenny Craig, Inc.|Jenny Craig]] for {{US$|600{{nbsp}}million}}.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 June 2006 |title=Jenny Craig Brings 5 Times Its Price in '02 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/20/business/20diet.html |access-date=12 March 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=12 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312013456/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/20/business/20diet.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2007, completing a deal announced the year before, Nestlé acquired the Medical Nutrition division of Novartis Pharmaceutical for {{US$|2.5{{nbsp}}billion}} and also acquiring the milk-flavoring product known as [[Ovaltine]], the "Boost" and "Resource" lines of nutritional supplements, and Optifast dieting products.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nestlé completes takeover of Novartis food unit – SWI swissinfo.ch|url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/nestl%C3%A9-completes-takeover-of-novartis-food-unit/5980750|work=SWI – the international service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation|date=2 July 2007|access-date=25 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026081047/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/nestl%C3%A9-completes-takeover-of-novartis-food-unit/5980750|archive-date=26 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Nestlé1.jpg|thumb|The Brazilian president, [[Lula da Silva]], inaugurates a factory in [[Feira de Santana]] ([[Bahia]]), in February 2007.]]
In April 2007, returning to its roots, Nestlé bought US baby-food manufacturer [[Gerber Products Company|Gerber]] for {{US$|5.5{{nbsp}}billion}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2007/04/12/news/international/bc.gerber.nestle.reut/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070417052255/https://money.cnn.com/2007/04/12/news/international/bc.gerber.nestle.reut/index.htm|archive-date=17 April 2007|title=Nestlé to buy Gerber for $5.5B |publisher=CNN |date=12 April 2007 |access-date=12 April 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/media-releases/en/2007/1118074.shtml|title=Novartis completes its business portfolio restructuring, divesting Gerber for USD 5.5&nbsp;billion to Nestlé|date=12 April 2007|publisher=Novartis|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081224075835/http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/media-releases/en/2007/1118074.shtml|archive-date=24 December 2008|access-date=2 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/media-releases/en/2007/1150584.shtml |title=Media releases |publisher=Novartis.com |date=3 September 2007 |access-date=8 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109200417/http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/media-releases/en/2007/1150584.shtml |archive-date=9 January 2009 }}</ref> In December 2007, Nestlé entered into a strategic partnership with a Belgian chocolate maker, [[Pierre Marcolini]].<ref>(Press release) [http://www.nestle.com/Media/PressReleases/Pages/AllPressRelease.aspx?Name=PMarcolini13Dec07News&PressReleaseYear=2007&Title=Nestl%C3%A9%20enters%20into%20strategic%20partnership%20with%20Belgian%20luxury%20chocolate%20maker%20Pierre%20Marcolini&PageName=2007.aspx Nestlé enters into strategic partnership with Belgian luxury chocolate maker Pierre Marcolini] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320072902/http://www.nestle.com/Media/PressReleases/Pages/AllPressRelease.aspx?Name=PMarcolini13Dec07News&PressReleaseYear=2007&Title=Nestl%C3%A9%20enters%20into%20strategic%20partnership%20with%20Belgian%20luxury%20chocolate%20maker%20Pierre%20Marcolini&PageName=2007.aspx |date=20 March 2012 }}. Nestlé retrieved from it 23 March 2011.</ref>

In late September 2008, the Hong Kong government found [[melamine]] in a Chinese-made Nestlé milk product. Six infants died from kidney damage, and a further 860 babies were hospitalised.<ref name="sick">{{cite news |last=McDonald |first=Scott |date=22 September 2008 |title=Nearly 53,000 Chinese children sick from milk |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iCL58EMBN1tqq6xujZlsaITAFpCQD93BHE880 |agency=Associated Press}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="sick2">{{cite news |last=Macartney |first=Jane |date=22 September 2008 |title=China baby milk scandal spreads as sick toll rises to 13,000 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/china-baby-milk-scandal-spreads-as-sick-toll-rises-to-13000-jlxdmrsk9qd |access-date=2 April 2010 |work=The Times |location=London}}</ref> The following June, an [[outbreak]] of [[Escherichia coli O157:H7|''E. coli'' O157:H7]] was linked to Nestlé's refrigerated [[cookie dough]] originating in a plant in [[Danville, Virginia|Danville]], Virginia.<ref>{{cite news |title=FDA confirms E. coli found in Nestle cookie dough |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE55T0TY/ |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

Nestlé agreed to sell its controlling stake in [[Alcon]] to [[Novartis]] on 4 January 2010. The sale was to form part of a broader {{US$|39.3{{nbsp}}billion}} offer by Novartis for full acquisition of the world's largest eye-care company.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6030RK20100104|title=Novartis seeks to buy rest of Alcon for $39&nbsp;billion|last=Thomasson|first=Emma|date=4 January 2010|work=Reuters|access-date=4 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122084106/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6030RK20100104|archive-date=22 January 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 2, 2010, Nestlé completed the purchase of [[Kraft Foods]]'s North American frozen pizza business for {{US$|3.7{{nbsp}}billion}}, which included brands such as [[DiGiorno]], [[Tombstone (pizza)|Tombstone]], and [[California Pizza Kitchen]].<ref>{{cite news | last=Cage | first=Sam | title=Nestle buys Kraft pizza business for $3.7 billion | date=January 4, 2010 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/business/nestle-buys-kraft-pizza-business-for-37-billion-idUSTRE6040X1/ | work=reuters.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Nestlé completes acquisition of Kraft Foods' frozen pizza business | date=March 2, 2010 | url=https://www.nestle.com/media/pressreleases/allpressreleases/frozenpizzabusiness | work=nestle.com }}</ref>

Since 2010, Nestlé has been working to transform itself into a [[nutrition]], health and wellness company in an effort to combat declining confectionery sales and the threat of expanding government regulation of such foods. This effort is being led through the Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences under the direction of Ed Baetge. The institute aims to develop "a new industry between food and pharmaceuticals" by creating foodstuffs with preventive and corrective health properties that would replace [[pharmaceutical drug]]s from pill bottles. The Health Science branch has already produced several products, such as drinks and protein shakes meant to combat malnutrition, diabetes, digestive health, obesity, and other diseases.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-05-05/nestl-s-sugar-empire-is-on-a-health-kick|title=Nestlé Wants to Sell You Both Sugary Snacks and Diabetes Pills|last1=Campbell|first1=Matthew|last2=Gretler|first2=Corinne|website=Bloomberg.com|date=5 May 2016|access-date=22 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723000151/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-05-05/nestl-s-sugar-empire-is-on-a-health-kick|archive-date=23 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

It acquired British pharmaceutical company [[Vitaflo]], which makes clinical nutritional products for people with [[genetic disorder]]s, in August 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-08-02 |title=Nestlé to enter global market for clinical nutrition products |url=https://www.nestle.com/media/pressreleases/allpressreleases/nestl%C3%A9-enter-fast-growing-global-market-clinical-nutrition-products-inherited-metabolic-disorders |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=www.nestle.com |language=en}}</ref> In July 2011, Nestlé SA agreed to buy 60 percent of Hsu Fu Chi International Ltd. for about {{US$|1.7{{nbsp}}billion}}.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-11/nestle-to-buy-60-stake-in-chinese-snack-maker-hsu-fu-chi-for-1-7-billion.html | work=Bloomberg | title=Nestlé to Buy 60% Stake in Hsu Fu Chi for .7 Billion | date=11 July 2011 | access-date=10 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230170925/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-11/nestle-to-buy-60-stake-in-chinese-snack-maker-hsu-fu-chi-for-1-7-billion.html | archive-date=30 December 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref> On 23 April 2012, Nestlé agreed to acquire [[Pfizer Inc.]]'s [[Baby food|infant-nutrition]], formerly Wyeth Nutrition, unit for {{US$|11.9{{nbsp}}billion}}, topping a joint bid from [[Danone]] and Mead Johnson.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-23/nestle-agrees-to-buy-pfizer-baby-food-unit-for-11-9-billion-1-.html "Nestlé to Acquire Pfizer Baby Food Unit for $11.9 Billion"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230170656/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-23/nestle-agrees-to-buy-pfizer-baby-food-unit-for-11-9-billion-1-.html |date=30 December 2014 }}. Bloomberg, 23 April 2012</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140314/BLOGS10/140319820/mead-johnson-nutrition-co-is-a-prize-catch-in-the-baby-formula-business|title=Mead Johnson looks tasty, but Abbott may have to pass|date=13 March 2014|website=Crain's Chicago Business|access-date=26 March 2022|archive-date=23 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423091334/https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140314/BLOGS10/140319820/mead-johnson-nutrition-co-is-a-prize-catch-in-the-baby-formula-business|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/consumer/2012/04/nestl%C3%A9-buy-pfizer-nutrition-1185bn|title=Nestlé to buy Pfizer Nutrition for $11.85bn|publisher=NewStatesman|access-date=5 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103032603/http://www.newstatesman.com/consumer/2012/04/nestl%C3%A9-buy-pfizer-nutrition-1185bn|archive-date=3 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>