India has emerged as one of Nestle’s strongest markets globally, ranking among its top 10 markets and becoming the company’s best-performing market during the first half of 2026.
Nestle global CEO Philipp Navratil highlighted India’s performance during his first visit to the country, saying emerging markets were driving the company’s growth and that India was leading the group.
However, the company’s strong performance in India comes alongside questions over differences in the nutritional composition of products sold in India compared with similar products in other countries.
DIFFERENT RECIPES FOR DIFFERENT MARKETS
Consumer groups and independent research have previously raised concerns about the nutritional quality of packaged foods sold by major multinational companies in India.
A 2024 assessment by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), which examined major food and beverage manufacturers, found that only 30% of Nestle’s sales in India came from products classified as “healthy” under its Health Star Rating-based assessment. The remaining 70% did not meet that benchmark.
The differences are particularly visible when products are compared across countries.
A Reuters report noted that multinational food companies frequently modify recipes depending on local regulations, consumer preferences and purchasing power. Former Mondelez executive Parul Sharma cited affordability as one of the major reasons why recipes can differ between markets.
KitKat provides one example. The standard version sold in India contains 4.5% cocoa solids, while the Australian version uses milk chocolate containing at least 22% cocoa.
Maggi noodles also differ. The Indian version uses palm oil, while versions sold in Britain use sunflower oil. Some Maggi packets sold in Britain are manufactured in India but carry a red front-of-pack warning highlighting their high salt content.
Cerelac has been another point of controversy. Nestle introduced a sugar-free version of the baby cereal in India in 2024 after criticism over added sugar. The company had already been selling sugar-free Cerelac in some other markets.
These differences do not automatically mean that Nestle’s Indian products are unsafe or violate Indian regulations. However, they have prompted questions over why consumers in different markets receive products with substantially different nutritional profiles.
Nestle is also not the only multinational facing scrutiny over such differences. Other major brands, including Cadbury’s Bournvita, Coca-Cola’s Fanta and PepsiCo products such as Lay’s and Kurkure, have faced similar questions in India.
INDIA BECOMES A NESTLE GROWTH ENGINE
Nestle’s financial performance underlines why India has become increasingly important to the company.
During the June quarter of 2026, Nestle India’s net profit rose 48% to Rs 975 crore, while revenue increased 25% to Rs 6,378 crore. All four major categories — prepared dishes, milk products, chocolates and beverages — posted double-digit growth during the quarter.
India has also become the world’s largest market for both KitKat and Maggi, surpassing markets such as Japan and Brazil.
Nestle has simultaneously expanded its distribution beyond major urban centres. Its rural reach has increased threefold since 2019 to approximately 2,16,000 villages, according to Reuters.
The company is also benefiting from the rapid expansion of quick-commerce platforms and increasing consumer demand for premium products.
That makes India an increasingly important growth engine for Nestle. But as the company deepens its presence in the country, the differences between products sold in India and those available elsewhere are likely to remain an important question for consumers and regulators.
