PETALING JAYA: Nestle (M) Bhd
says its focus heading into the second half of financial year 2026 (2H26) is on maintaining sales growth momentum through strengthening its core brands, scaling innovations, and expanding its presence across commercial channels.
Chief executive officer Juan Aranols said the company is confident in its ability to deliver a robust performance for the financial year 2026 (FY26), despite a landscape characterised by evolving consumer expectations and global uncertainties.
“We will continue to invest in the future by modernising our manufacturing and supply chain operations through digitalisation, automation and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled technologies, further enhancing efficiency, responsiveness and long-term competitiveness,” he said in a statement.
For its second quarter ended June 30, 2026 (2Q26), Nestle recorded a net profit of RM155.02mil, up from RM112.11mil in 2Q25.
The improvement was underpinned by broad-based growth across categories, effective cost management, and efficiencies across the value chain, according to the company.
“Investment in innovation and brand building helped bolster key categories such as coffee, nutrition and active lifestyle offerings under brands such as Milo, Maggi, Nescafe and KitKat, ensuring the portfolio stays relevant for consumers across various demographic segments,” it added.
The topline for the quarter stood at RM1.81bil, marking a 8.7% increase from RM1.67bil in the corresponding quarter last year.
“Growth was supported by resilient domestic demand and steady export sales, reflecting the continued strength of the company’s portfolio of trusted brands and its ability to remain relevant across evolving consumer needs and consumption occasions,” Nestle said.
For 1H26, its net profit rose to RM360.13mil compared to RM273.45mil the year before, while revenue reached RM3.69bil, a 7.5% rise from RM3.44bil in 1H25.
The stronger first-half performance, according to Nestle, was supported by disciplined cost management and ongoing operational efficiencies.
The company also announced an interim dividend of 80 sen per share for FY26, up from 70 per share in the same period the previous year.
Aranols commented that the results reaffirm the ability of Nestle’s brands to stay relevant by responding quickly to changing consumer needs while retaining its dedication to long-term value creation.
“Malaysian consumers are increasingly making deliberate choices, balancing nutrition, quality, convenience and quest for value as they cope with financial constraints in their daily lives,” he said.
Moving forward, the company remains committed to strengthening its capabilities, which will sustain profitable growth in the years ahead.
The company said it also continues to progress on its sustainability initiatives, particularly in advancing plastic circularity and strengthening its halal ecosystem, prioritising areas in which its scale, local partnerships, and presence will meaningfully contribute to consumers, communities, and the wider nation.
