Brandtree

When did Nestlé buy and sell its brands?

Nestlé has completed 2 recorded acquisitions and 1 divestiture or spin-off, spanning 1985 to 2026.

DateTypeAssetsCounterpartyValue
Jul 2026announcedJoint venturePerrier and S.PellegrinoPlatinum Equity€4.9bn
Aug 2018AcquisitionStarbucks at HomeStarbucks$7.15bn
Mar 2018DivestitureButterfinger, Baby Ruth and CrunchFerrero$2.8bn
Jan 1985AcquisitionCarnation—$3bn

2026

Joint venture announced

Platinum Equity acquires Perrier and S.Pellegrino

Nestlé agreed to put its waters and premium beverages business, more than thirty brands including S.Pellegrino, Perrier, Acqua Panna and Nestlé Pure Life, into Peranel, a new company owned 50:50 with the private equity firm Platinum Equity, at an enterprise value of €4.9 billion. Nestlé would receive about €3.0 billion in cash. The result would mirror Froneri, the ice cream venture Nestlé formed with PAI Partners: famous Nestlé brands in a company Nestlé does not control.

Value
€4.9bn
Seller
Nestlé
Regulatory
None recorded

2018

Acquisition closed

Nestlé acquires Starbucks at Home

Nestlé paid Starbucks $7.15 billion in cash for the perpetual right to sell Starbucks packaged coffee and tea in shops worldwide. No factories or staff transferred: the payment bought a licence, which is why the cafés and the supermarket bags now have different owners.

Value
$7.15bn
Buyer
Nestlé
Seller
Starbucks
Regulatory
None recorded
Divestiture closed

Ferrero acquires Butterfinger, Baby Ruth and Crunch

Nestlé sold its United States confectionery business, including Butterfinger, Baby Ruth, Crunch and around twenty other brands, to Ferrero. Nestlé kept its confectionery businesses in every other market.

Value
$2.8bn
Buyer
Ferrero
Seller
Nestlé
Regulatory
None recorded

1985

Acquisition closed

Nestlé acquires Carnation

Nestlé acquired Carnation for about $3 billion, at the time the largest acquisition ever made outside the oil industry. It brought evaporated milk, Coffee mate and Friskies into the group and established Nestlé as a major American food company rather than a European one selling abroad.

Value
$3bn
Buyer
Nestlé
Seller
—
Regulatory
None recorded

Brands Nestlé once owned

Ownership recorded here as having ended, whether or not a deal record with a filing behind it exists for the transfer.

BrandOwned fromUntilOwner today
Drumstick Jan 1994 Dec 2019 Froneri
Skinny Cow Jan 2003 Dec 2019 Froneri
Crunch Jan 1928 Mar 2018 Ferrero
Butterfinger Jan 1990 Mar 2018 Ferrero
Baby Ruth Jan 1990 Mar 2018 Ferrero
Mövenpick Jan 2003 Oct 2016 Froneri