Nestlé S.A. (Euronext: NESTS) is the world's largest nutrition, health and wellness company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri Nestlé.
The company grew significantly during the First World War and again following the Second World War, eventually expanding its offerings beyond its early condensed milk and infant formula products. About 28 of Nestlé's brands bring in more than 1 billion Swiss francs (about $ 1.1 billion) annually, such as Nespresso, Nescafé, KitKat, Smarties, Nesquik, Perrier, Vittel and Maggi. Nestlé is also one of the main shareholders of L'Oréal, the world's biggest Cosmetics and personal care company.
In 2011, Nestlé was listed No. 1 in the Fortune Global 500 as the world's most profitable corporation. The company has 449 factories, operates in 86 countries around the world, and employs over 328,000 people.
On April 23rd, 2012, Nestlé announced that they have agreed to acquire Pfizer Inc.'s infant-nutrition unit for $11.9 billion.
