Multinational manufacturer of food products.
Headquartered in Vevey, Switz., it operates branches and subsidiaries in more than 70 countries. Its products include condensed and powdered milk, baby foods, chocolate, cheese, instant coffee and tea, condiments, and frozen foods. Its history dates to 1866, when two Swiss firms were established, the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. and a company founded by Henri Nestlé to manufacture the first infant formula. In 1905 they merged to become the Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Co. Nestlé created the first milk chocolate and in 1937 the first instant coffee, which it produced under the name Nescafé. It acquired various other firms, including Crosse & Blackwell in 1960, Stouffer Corp. in 1973, Carnation Co. in 1984, and Ralston Purina pet foods in 2001. Acquisitions have helped the company maintain its ranking as the world's largest food company. Nestlé adopted its present name in 1977.