Nestlé is keeping operations going in Ukraine by means such as converting below-ground space in its plants into bomb shelters, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
Nestlé has three plants and a business center in Ukraine. Keeping them running requires measures like turning underground rooms into bomb shelters, and never having more staff on hand than can comfortably fit into them. Nestlé has to make other adjustments, such as allowing for frequent starts and stops on production lines, and sourcing from abroad ingredients, like tomatoes, it used to obtain locally.
The Nestlé noodle plant in the heavily bombed city of Kharkiv can’t remain open, but staffers have been entering it to get boxes of noodles to give away. Nestlé has also imported products like baby food to donate to Ukrainians.
Nestlé is one of the companies that have been called out by name by Ukrainian officials for continuing to do business in Russia after the invasion. The company says it is limiting its Russian business to “essentials” like baby food and medical nutrition products.
