The Nestlé company history

The pioneer years

Our history begins in 1866, with the foundation of the Anglo-Swiss Condensed
Milk Company. Henri Nestlé develops a breakthrough infant food in 1867, and
in 1905 the company he founded merges with Anglo-Swiss, to form what is now
known as the Nestlé Group. During this period cities grow and railways and
steamships bring down commodity costs, spurring international trade in
consumer goods.

1866condensed milk advertising, Milkmaid brand, Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk

Company

US brothers Charles and George Page help establish Anglo-Swiss Condensed

Milk Company. Using abundant supplies of fresh milk in Switzerland, they apply
knowledge gained in their homeland to establish Europe’s first production facility
for condensed milk in Cham. They start supplying Europe’s industrial towns with
the product under the Milkmaid brand, marketing it as a safe, long-life alternative
to fresh milk.

1867

Nestlé’s founder, German-born pharmacist Henri Nestlé, launches his ‘farine lactée’ (‘flour
with milk’) in Vevey, Switzerland. It combines cow’s milk, wheat flour and sugar, and Nestlé
develops it for consumption by infants who cannot be breastfed, to tackle high mortality
rates. Around this time he starts using the now iconic ‘Nest’ logo.
1878

Fierce competition develops between Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss, when both companies start
selling rival versions of the other’s original products: condensed milk and infant cereal. Both
firms expand sales and production abroad.