The Nestlé Company History

Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company. It is present in 190 countries around the world, including Thailand. Nestlé headquarter is located in town of Vevey, Switzerland. As of now, Nestlé has been established for more than 150 years. Nestlé offers a wide portfolio of products and services for people and their pets throughout their lives. Its more than 2,000 brands range from global icons like NESCAFÉ, NESPRESSO or MAGGI to local favourites like BEAR BRAND or MINERÉ.

Nestlé was founded by Mr. Henri Nestlé, an inventor of “Farine lactée” in 1867 which was product made from milk and cereal that helped save lives of premature baby who could not consume breast milk. They were Nestlé’s first product line and origin of the world’s largest food and beverage company.

Nestlé have expanded the business to 190 countries around the world. More than 308,000 Nestlé employees are committed to Nestlé’s cause “We unlock the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come.” Nestlé offers products and services for our consumers and their pets in all age ranges through more than 2,000 products

The history of Nestlé Group Thailand started in 1893, as depicted in the first advertisement for “Milkmaid” sweetened condensed milk in the Bangkok Times newspaper on October 18, 1893. Trading has been successfully established via importation of a number of products. In 1947 a distribution company, “Pronesiam” Inc., was set up for the distribution of all Nestle products.

In 1968, with increasing popularity and demands for Nestlé products in Thailand along with favorable investment conditions, Nestlé took the first step towards creating a local manufacturing base in Thailand.

History of Nestlé (Thai) Ltd

Today, Nestlé Group Thailand has 7 plants and employs 3,300 people. Nestlé produces and distributes its food & beverages products throughout the country under such famous brand names as NESCAFE, Nestlé BEAR BRAND, MILO, Nestlé PURE LIFE, NESVITA, Maggi and Nestlé Ice Cream. These Nestlé products are well-known and trusted by consumers for its high quality products.

1893

First advertisement for “Milkmaid” (แหม่มทูนหัว) sweetened condensed milk in the Bangkok Times.

1934

Nestlé BEAR BRAND first launched in Thailand.

1947

Incorporation of Pronesiam Inc., a local trading company, to sell all Nestlé imported products in Thailand.

1951

MAGGI launched in Thailand.

1958

Nestlé MILO launched in Thailand.

1967

Incorporation of United Milk, Co., Ltd. (a joint venture of Nestlé, Ursina Franck, and General Milk). The Samrong factory was constructed in response to increasing demand for Nestlé products in Thailand and favourable investment conditions. The factory produced three brands of sweetened condensed milk, each sold under its own brand: Carnation, Milkmaid, and BEAR BRAND.

1971

Nestlé took over Ursina Franck, the company that owned BEAR BRAND products.

1972

Diethelm Co., Ltd. appointed as distributor for all Nestlé products.

1973

Acquiring 100% of the shares of United Milk Co., Ltd., Nestlé took full ownership of and operated the Samrong factory. Nestlé entered the instant coffee business through a management contract with the shareholders of Thai Soluble Coffee Co., Ltd. for Nestlé to run the Bangna factory, which produced NESCAFÉ Instant Coffee, Nestlé Dico, and Trio Coffee Mixes, introducing NESCAFÉ in Thailand.

1976

The Samrong factory started producing recombined sterilized milk in addition to sweetened condensed milk. Product lines have since expanded to include UHT milk, cereals, and culinary products such as MAGGI chili sauce, MAGGI ketchup, MAGGI seasoning, and bouillons.

1984

Nestlé acquired a 100% share of Upali (Thailand) Ltd., a local chocolate and confectionery company, and renamed it Cocoa Specialities (Thailand) Ltd. This led to Nestlé’s fully-owned Pathumthani Factory that produced chocolate and sweets under the Nestlé brand.

Nestlé KITKAT was launched in Thailand.

The global acquisition of Carnation resulted in Nestlé acquiring and operating the Bangpoo factory.

1987

The Navanakorn factory, the first powdered milk plant in Thailand, was founded.

Cocoa Specialities (Thailand) Ltd. was renamed Nutritional Products (Thailand) Ltd. in preparation for an expansion of the MILO product range later in the year with the introduction of a new MILO tonic food drink.

Carnation (Thailand) Ltd. was renamed Nestlé Trading (Thailand) Ltd., mainly engaging in exporting products manufactured by all local Nestlé factories as well as purchased from co-packers.

1989

Pronesiam was renamed Nestlé Products (Thailand) Inc. (NEPRO) and took over the marketing, sales, and distribution of Nestlé products from Diethelm. Nestlé took full control on 1 April 1989, combining its commercial and support services into one complete organization.

1990

A sugar confectionery plant was built at the Pathumthani Factory, expanding the chocolate plant that had been in place since 1984.

The manufacturing of coffee products was moved to the newly-opened Chachoengsao factory, which is operated by Quality Coffee Products Ltd.

1991

Approval of ASEAN Industrial Joint Venture (AIJV) projects for the Bangpoo factory. The Nestlé Coffee Receiving Centre/coffee buying station in Chumporn was commissioned.

1992

Vittel set up a joint venture company called Royal Resources Co., Ltd. to produce MINÉRÉ mineral water at the Ayutthaya Water Factory, which opened this year.

1993

Nestlé (Thai) Co., Ltd. was established as Nestlé celebrated its 100th anniversary in Thailand, with HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presiding over the ceremony.

MINÉRÉ was launched in Thailand.

1995

Nestlé acquired 45% of General Pacific Foods Co., Ltd. (later renamed Nestlé Ice Cream), adding the Bangchan Factory to its management and the ice cream and yogurt business to its portfolio.

1996

Nestlé acquired 60% of Danish Dairy Industries Co., Ltd., adding the Pakchong factory to its management and pasteurized milk and yogurt to its portfolio. Nutritional Products (Thailand) Ltd. was renamed Nestlé Foods (Thailand) Ltd. Carnation Manufacturing Co. (Thailand) Ltd. was renamed Nestlé Manufacturing (Thailand) Ltd.

1998

Nestlé acquired a 100% share of Royal Resources, Co., Ltd., changing the company name to Perrier Vittel (Thailand) Ltd.

1999

Nestlé established the Indochina region comprising Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, with Nestlé Thailand as the hub.

2000

A regional operations office for procurement and logistics was established. Nestlé PURE LIFE was launched in Thailand.

2001

Nestlé PURINA was launched in Thailand.

2003

Extension of the production line at the Bangpoo factory to manufacture Nestlé COFFEE-MATE creamer for export. This made the Bangpoo factory Nestlé’s largest creamer factory worldwide.

2006

Nestlé transferred its canned milk and beverage and UHT milk business (Nawanakorn factory) and frozen products business (Pakchong factory) to F&N Dairy (Thailand) Ltd. to handle manufacturing and distribution. The Nestlé Visitor Center ceased operation due to this business transfer.