Press Release: Nestle: Nestlé drives digital innovation with Silicon Valley outpost

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   November 06, 2013 04:11 ET (09:11 GMT)- - 04 11 AM EST 11-06-13

-2 of 2- 06 Nov 2013 09:11:00 UTC  Press Release: Nestle: Nestlé drives digital innovation with Silicon Valley outpost

Nestlé S.A. / Nestlé drives digital innovation with Silicon Valley outpost . Processed and transmitted by Thomson Reuters ONE. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Nestlé has set up an innovation outpost in Silicon Valley, California to help deepen relationships with consumers online and in social media.

The aim is to enhance existing partnerships with the world's largest technology corporations while looking for pioneers among the thousands of small technology startups that Nestlé can work with.

In the fast growing area of digital engagement Nestlé wants to use the innovation outpost to build on the progress made in recent years to better understand consumers' needs and respond to them more quickly.

It will also help brands manage their growing fan bases - on Facebook alone, Nestlé pages have more than 180 million fans, and publish more than 1,500 pieces of content a day.

Consumer benefits

"The pace of innovation taking place in Silicon Valley is really impressive," said Patrice Bula, Nestlé's Head of Marketing. "Organisations there are shaping the future of consumer communication.

"We have an enormous amount of nutrition knowledge and expertise within our company. We are determined leverage this through digital technology and online content, in meaningful and engaging ways for our consumers," he continued.

"Building a stronger network in the region will allow us to move faster in our efforts to combine new technology with opportunities to bring our consumers greater benefits."

Strategic partnerships

Nestlé already has a strategic partnership with Facebook and Google, and is establishing close links with Twitter.

It has also created Digital Acceleration Teams at its headquarters in Switzerland - and in various markets worldwide including China, India and Italy - to help develop its relationships with consumers online.

And many of the company's brands have been embracing new technology.

In September, a surprise partnership with Google saw the technology company name the latest version of its Android mobile operating system 'Android http://www.nestle.com/Media/NewsAndFeatures/Google-Nestle-announce-Android-KitKat KitKat', after Nestlé's famous confectionery.

Earlier this year, Nestlé acquired its first-ever online content property, when its Purina Petcare business bought Petfinder http://www.nestle.com/media/newsandfeatures/purina-petcare-and-petfinder , the world's largest and oldest website for pet adoption.

In February, Nestlé launched a digital initiative http://www.nestle.com/media/newsandfeatures/global-qr-codes to give consumers instant access to information about its products' nutritional profile, and environmental and social impacts, simply by scanning them with a smartphone.

Read more stories about digital innovation at Nestlé

New acquisition furthers Nestlé's ambition to leverage digital technology and online content to enhance consumers' lives

http://www.nestle.com/Media/NewsAndFeatures/Purina-PetCare-and-Petfinder

Nestlé empowers consumers with new digital labelling schemehttp://www.nestle.com/media/newsandfeatures/global-qr-codes

Google and Nestlé announce Android KitKat

http://www.nestle.com/Media/NewsAndFeatures/Google-Nestle-announce-Android-KitKat

Media enquiries

Tel: +41 21 924 2200

Email: Nestlé Corporate Media Relations mailto:mediarelations@nestle.com

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Source: Nestlé S.A. via Thomson Reuters ONE

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   November 06, 2013 04:11 ET (09:11 GMT)- - 04 11 AM EST 11-06-13