Unite has warned Nestlé it will “fight for every job” following the Swiss multinational’s announcement it plans to cut 6% of its workforce.
Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil yesterday unveiled plans to cut 16,000 jobs over the next two years as he seeks to accelerate a turnaround.
The announcement came as Nestlé raised its cost-saving target to CHF3bn (£2.8bn) by the end of 2027, up from CHF2.5bn before.
According to Navratil, the layoffs will include 12,000 “white-collar jobs”, which will save the company CHF1bn – double what was previously planned – as well as 4,000 cuts in production and the supply chain as part of ongoing restructuring.
However trade union Unite, which represents over 1,000 members at Nestlé’s York, Halifax, Dalston, Tutbury and Buxton Water sites, has balked at the plans, stating that it will “fight for every job” at risk.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Nestlé is a profitable company, selling billions of products every month.
“Job losses are simply unacceptable. Unite will not allow our members to be the victims of any attempt to put profits before jobs.”
Nestlé declined to comment when approached by The Grocer.
The world’s largest food company has consistently underperformed its rivals in the wider consumer goods sector over recent years, having struggled to grow sales.
In its latest results this week, sales fell 1.9% to CHF65.9bn (£61.7bn) in the first nine months of 2025, although this was largely due to unfavourable exchange rates.
Navratil took over as CEO in September after his predecessor, Laurent Freixe, was sacked for hiding a romantic relationship with a colleague. Nestlé chairman Paul Bulcke stepped down soon after.
At the time, Bernstein analyst Callum Elliott said the news was the latest in a line of “disappointing developments”.
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