FMCG giant Nestlé has revealed it will continue to sell “essential” products including Cheerios and Nesquik in Russia.
However, the firm has stressed it is not making a profit from these operations.
The news comes follows Ukrainan president, Volodymyr Zelensky, calling out the company for still trading in Russia, despite its invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, also criticised bosses at Nestle for having “no understanding” over the impact of still trading in Russia.
Earlier this month the company stopped all shipments of non-essential products, such as Nescafe pods, to Russia, but is now continuing to sell a several items it considers essential, including baby food, nutrition products, pet food and cereals.
READ MORE: Nestlé warns of potential prices rises
A spokeswoman for Nestle said: “We have significantly scaled back our activities in Russia: we have stopped all imports and exports from Russia, except for essential products.
“The fact that we, like other food companies, supply the population with important food does not mean that we simply continue as before.”
Nestle, which employs about 7,000 people in Russia, added that it is no longer making investments or advertising in the country.
“At the same time, we are doing whatever we can in Ukraine and neighbouring countries to help alleviate this humanitarian catastrophe,” the spokeswoman said.
“Our colleagues in Ukraine are doing everything they can to help the population with food donations.
“We are still one of the few active food companies in Ukraine and sometimes even manage to distribute food in Kharkiv.”
Click here to sign up to Grocery Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
