India Powers Nestle's Growth as Company Eyes Bigger Gains

Nestle’s Growth is getting a major boost from India, which has emerged as the company’s highest-performing market in the first half of 2026.  

Philipp Navratil, CEO of Nestle S.A., said India is leading growth across emerging markets. These markets include Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

India is currently among Nestle’s top 10 markets globally by revenue. The company also sees the country moving into its top five markets.

Navratil said India offers strong opportunities across both value and premium products. Rising urbanization and a growing middle class are supporting this outlook.  The company is focusing on deeper distribution, product innovation, and the right pricing. It aims to serve consumers across different income groups.

What is driving Nestle’s growth in India?

The company is focusing on real internal growth rather than relying mainly on price increases. This approach combines volume growth, product mix, and premiumization. Nestle's India business has also reported strong financial performance. Its June 2026 quarter net profit rose 48 percent year over year to Rs 958.7 crore.

Consolidated revenue from operations increased 25 percent to Rs 6,378.2 crore. The growth was supported by strong volume-led performance.

Key factors supporting Nestle’s Growth in India include:

• Strong consumer demand across product categories
• Deeper distribution across urban and rural markets
• Growth in both value and premium products
• Product innovation and portfolio expansion
• Rising middle-class consumption
• Focus on volume-led growth and affordability

Nestle India is also expanding its export role. The company currently exports products to 28 countries. The India business is becoming a hub for products, expertise, and capabilities for other global markets.

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Nestle plans to build more capabilities in India

Nestle also sees India as important for manufacturing, research, talent, and business services. Navratil said the company plans to invest in production capabilities, research and development, talent, and IT services in India.

The company is also focused on building a resilient supply chain. In India, Nestle sources and buys locally, which helps reduce risks during global disruptions. Navratil said price increases would remain a last resort during inflation. The company wants to improve efficiency while protecting consumer affordability.

During his India visit, Navratil also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The discussion covered Nestle’s commitment to India and its contribution to the country's growth agenda.  Nestle is also open to working with the government on food-related issues. Navratil welcomed discussions around front-of-pack labeling and shared lessons from markets that have introduced sugar taxes.

Navratil added that Manish Tiwary, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestle India, and his team would be happy to share their perspective and the company’s experiences from other markets. He observed that some countries had started taxing sugar, which had provided learnings for the company that it could share.

With India already delivering strong volume-led growth, Nestle sees further room to expand. The company’s push into manufacturing, exports, innovation, and premium products could strengthen India's role in its global business.