Invention of the World's First Infant Cereal

In 1867, Henri Nestlé, a chemist who lived in Vevey, became interested in baby food because of the high infant mortality rate in Switzerland at the time. Recognising the important need to help nourish infants, he developed and started manufacturing a milk food product for babies whose mothers were unable to breastfeed. Shortly after he created his pioneer product, it saved the life of a baby who had rejected his mother's milk. Henri Nestlé's new product soon became known worldwide as Farine Lactée Nestlé (Nestlé's milk food).

The Nestlé Coat-of-Arms

Henri Nestlé called his company Societé Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé and used his name, which in German means "little nest" as his company logo - a nest with a mother bird feeding her young. Since 1867, it has become a universally understood symbol, evoking a sense of security, maternity, affection, nature, nourishment, family and tradition. Today, it is the central element in Nestlé's corporate identity.

The First Merger

In 1905, the Nestlé Company merged with the Anglo-Swiss  Condensed Milk Company, the first condensed milk factory which opened in Switzerland in 1866. Nestlé entered into the milk chocolate business in 1904 when Peter & Kohler Swiss General Chocolate Company produced milk chocolate under the Nestlé trademark. The chocolate company later joined the Nestlé Group in 1929. 

While the original business was based on milk and dietetic foods for children, the new Nestlé grew and diversified its range of products, through acquisitions and mergers with the better known brands of the time. For example : The manufacturing of LACTOGEN began in 1921, and in the same year, a beverage containing wheat flour was marketed under the brand name MILO. In 1938, NESCAFÉ, the world's first instant coffee was introduced. Then, in 1947, the MAGGI Company, manufacturer of soups and bouillon invented by Julius Maggi merged with Nestlé.

Nestlé continued to expand through the years with some major acquisitions :

	1985 -	CARNATION® - dairy and culinary products plus pet foods.
	1985 -	BUITONI-PERUGINA® - traditional sector of Italian food, chocolate and confectionery
	1988 -	ROWNTREE® - chocolate and confectionery
	1992 -	PERRIER® - development of mineral water sector

Today, the Nestlé Company still adheres to its founder's beliefs and principles and is, therefore, very much people-oriented, and committed to understanding its consumers needs throughout the world in order to provide the best products for their lives.

Nestlé, the World Food Company

Nestlé is the largest food company in the world, marketing over 8,500 brands and 30,000 products. It operates nearly 500 factories across 5 continents and employs over 200,000 employees worldwide.

As the World Food Company, Nestlé is the provider of the best food for whatever time of day and for whatever time of your life. It is the only Company that provides the food requirements throughout every day of your life.