Nestlé’s waters business sued by French rival Bonneval

Core Viewpoint - Nestlé's water business is facing a lawsuit from French competitor Bonneval Emergence for alleged unfair competition, seeking €1.6 billion in damages and a halt to sales of its bottled water brands [1][2]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - Bonneval Emergence has filed a suit against Nestlé, requesting the court to pause sales of brands like Vittel, Contrex, and Perrier, with a penalty of €1 million ($1.2 million) for each day of delay [1]. - The lawsuit claims that Nestlé's products have caused economic disadvantages due to their "unlawful" presence in the market and have unduly benefited from the use of the term "natural mineral waters" [2]. Group 2: Company Response - A spokesperson for Nestlé's waters business stated that the company believes the lawsuit is unfounded and will vigorously defend its position, emphasizing the safety of its natural mineral waters [4]. - Earlier incidents involving Perrier bottled mineral waters being blocked from the market due to bacterial contamination have raised concerns, although Nestlé confirmed that some pallets were blocked as a normal procedure [5]. Group 3: Legal Context - A recent ruling by a French court allowed Nestlé to continue marketing its Perrier products as "natural mineral water," rejecting a request from a consumer rights group to remove these products from the market [6].