Food manufacturer Nestlé says it is not making a profit from its remaining operations in Russia.
The company, known for chocolate bars such as Lion and KitKat and Nespresso and Nescafe coffee, is under increasing pressure to completely shut down its Russian activities due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky recently accused Nestlé of continuing to do business in Russia. Earlier this month, the company stopped shipping non-essential products to the country, such as San Pellegrino’s Nespresso coffee capsules and bottled water. The company also exports other goods such as baby food, breakfast cereals, and pet foods to Russia.
“We are not making a profit from our remaining operations,” the company said in a statement. “Just because we are providing the population with essential food, like other food companies, does not mean that we will continue as before.”
Nestlé also says it is doing what it can in Ukraine and neighbouring countries to help alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe. “We are still one of the few active food companies in Ukraine, and sometimes we even manage to distribute food in Kharkiv,” the statement said.