Nestle provides pick-me-up

Few can rise to the level of an Olympian, but providing refreshment to volunteers working for just the love of sport and their country is an achievement - one Nestle in China says meets its core shared values.

By donating free Nescafe to volunteers, the company "hopes the small contribution will ensure they feel re-vitalized as they perform their essential duties", said a company spokesman.

Its Olympics support effort actually stretches back seven years to a large-scale painting event with the theme "New Beijing, Great Olympics - Let's draw it together".

With support of its employees in Xiamen, Chongqing, Wuhan, Harbin, Urumqi, Qingdao, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu, Shanghai and Beijing, the effort produced "athletic artistry" in 12 scrolls, each 100 m long

The original artwork carries the hopes and dreams of young people representing the diversity of China. Six children of different ethnic backgrounds were invited to visit Lausanne, the home city of the International Olympic Committee, and the town of Vevey, the birthplace of Nestle.

Nestle in China is also a sponsor of this year's House of Switzerland 2008 that highlights the culture and values of Switzerland and fosters mutual understanding and friendship with the Chinese people. The event not only promotes Swiss heritage, but also the company's lengthy history of sustainable business in China.

Some 99 percent of Nestle's product range is produced in China. Many have been tailored to the local market by its research and development center in Shanghai, which will be augmented in October by a new company research center in Beijing.

"We hope visitors will share our pride from more than 20 years of partnership with tens of thousands of small farmers who supply us with coffee beans and daily with milk in often remote rural areas," the spokesman said.

"In those distant communities we have helped make a difference through our competitive and reliable payment for the high quality raw materials."

13,000 local staff

Headquartered in Beijing, Nestle in China has invested more than 7 billion yuan to date and employs more than 13,000 people, providing them with training, job opportunities and an attractive career.

Nestle's wide product range in China includes milk, infant formula, cereals, coffee, bottled water and other beverages, ice cream, chocolate and confectionery, bouillons, seasonings and soups, as well as pet food.

(China Daily 08/01/2008 page22)