Core Points - Nestlé S.A. has appointed a new CEO, Philipp Navratil, following the ousting of former CEO Laurent Freixe due to an inappropriate workplace relationship [1][4] - The investigation into Freixe's conduct was overseen by Chairman Paul Bulcke and Lead Independent Director Pablo Isla, and Freixe will leave without an exit package [1][2] - Navratil has a strong background within the company, having started as an auditor in 2001 and holding various leadership roles, including overseeing the Coffee Strategic Business Unit [7][10] Company Leadership Transition - The decision to remove Freixe was deemed necessary to uphold Nestlé's values and governance [2] - Navratil is recognized for his impressive track record in challenging environments and is expected to drive growth and efficiency efforts [4][11] - He expressed his commitment to the company's strategic direction and plans for performance improvement [11][12]

Group 1 - Nestlé is evaluating the potential sale of several vitamin brands, including Nature's Bounty, to address growth pressures from tightening consumer spending [1] - The CEO of Nestlé, Laurent Freixe, announced a strategic review of underperforming mass-market and budget brands in the vitamins, minerals, and supplements sector, which may lead to divestitures [1] - Nestlé's acquisition of Nature's Bounty and other brands in 2021 aimed to expand into the nutritional supplement market, but competition and changing consumer behavior have led to disappointing performance [1] Group 2 - In addition to its nutrition business, Nestlé is also assessing the strategic direction of its bottled water brands, including Perrier and San Pellegrino [2] - Factors such as rising food prices due to inflation, uncertain tariff policies, and the popularity of weight-loss drugs are prompting large food companies to reassess their product lines and divest underperforming segments [2] - The trend of large food companies acquiring rapidly growing emerging brands in health and wellness sectors is becoming prevalent, as seen with recent acquisitions by companies like Ferrero and Mars [2] Group 3 - Acquisitions can boost growth in the short term but may carry risks if companies overlook changing consumer preferences [3] - General Mills sold its North American yogurt business due to competitive pressures from Greek yogurt brands and private labels [3] - Unilever plans to spin off its ice cream business to focus resources on core brands like Lipton tea and Hellmann's mayonnaise [3] Group 4 - Kraft Heinz is considering spinning off part of its grocery business into a separate company valued at up to $20 billion to focus on its core products like Heinz ketchup [4] - The company has not confirmed the reports but stated it is evaluating strategic transactions to unlock shareholder value [4]