As the State of Michigan considers its fateful decision on the second Ice Mountain bottled water project in the state, it's instructive to take a look at how the company involved, Nestle, is showing up in the news globally. This is the company that pays the state a few thousand dollars to make hundreds of millions of profit each year from the water that the people of Michigan own.
Nestlé Waters and the Boissons Gazeuses des Frères Zahaf Group (BGFZ), formerly Boissons Sidi El Kebir, have created a partnership company in Algeria, called Société Source de TABERKACHENT.
Nestlé Waters holds 51% of the capital. This corporation has taken over all of the BGFZ group’s bottled water business, the Sidi El Kebir water brand and has a distribution agreement that will enable it to take advantage of the network and expertise developed in Algeria by the BGFZ group. The company will be headed by Mohamed ZAHAF.
Bottled water consumption in Algeria totals 550 million liters per year or 16 liters per person, and has recorded an annual growth rate of 16% in recent years.
http://www.agreport.com/open/143810.phtml
"We just can't justify this in this current environment," said Kathryn Rowan, vice-president of Nestlé Canada.
"I was totally devastated," said Mayor Alvin Runnalls, "because we know that this is our largest business in North Dundas. I was really shocked."
http://ottawa.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=ot-nestle20050517&ref=rss
Shopping can be a nightmare for the time-poor but guilt-rich consumer with a conscience. Notorious global corporations may lurk behind seemingly innocuous household goods, while choosing the wrong make of mobile phone can leave you with unwanted links to the arms trade.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=640099
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2005--m-Qube, a leading enabler of mobile marketing technology and services, today announced that it has teamed with NESTLE® NESQUIK® to deliver an integrated mobile marketing promotion. The cross-carrier, mobile marketing program combines gaming, mobile phones and music affinities to engage teens and young adults in an instant-win game.
The NESQUIK instant-win game, called "Grab. Gulp. Win!" hits the shelf this spring on specially-marked packages of NESQUIK ready-to-drink flavored milk and MilkShakes. Consumers can see if they have a winning package by texting in their Game Code to a unique short code that was set up for this promotion. Prizes include
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050516/165702.html?.v=1
Posted by Dave at May 22, 2005 08:30 AM