Russian firm asks Putin to seize Nestlé’s assets

A little-known Russian firm has formally petitioned President Vladimir Putin to place five of Nestlé's Russian subsidiaries under temporary state administration, a move that could strip the Swiss food giant of operations valued at up to $2.1 billion, according to a report published Monday by the Kommersant newspaper.finance.yahoo+1

The Request

The petition was submitted by KS Logistika, a company that reported revenue of just 1.6 million roubles ($18,735) in 2025 and is believed to be acting on behalf of undisclosed third parties, Reuters reported. The firm, which sources say supplies German power tools to Russia, cited Nestlé's decision not to expand production capacity in Russia and its halt of exports from Russian factories as justification for the request.ua+1

The five entities named in the petition are Nestlé Russia LLC, Nestlé Kuban, Serial Partners Rus, CPB Nestlé, and Atrium Innovations Rus. According to a Kommersant source, the request is currently under review by the office of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, with a response expected by the end of the year.ua

Nestlé's Response

Nestlé told Reuters it had not been contacted by Russian authorities about the request and said its offices and factories continue to operate in compliance with all regulatory requirements. The company has maintained its presence in Russia throughout the war in Ukraine, arguing that as a food producer it supplies essential goods. Nestlé operates six production sites across the Kaluga, Vologda, Samara, Vladimir, Perm, and Krasnodar regions, producing coffee, confectionery, baby food, and pet food.finance.yahoo+1

Industry analyst Mikhail Burmistrov of Infoline-Analytics estimated Nestlé's Russian business could be worth 160 billion to 175 billion roubles, including assets, brands, and undistributed profits.ua+1

A Familiar Playbook

The request follows a pattern established since Putin signed a 2023 decree granting Moscow the power to place assets from "unfriendly" countries under temporary administration. The mechanism was previously used to seize control of Russian subsidiaries belonging to Danone and Carlsberg. Consultant Natalia Popravko told Kommersant that while temporary administration does not formally constitute asset seizure, businesses subjected to the process have ultimately been confiscated or sold to Russian investors.ua+1

Putin's spokesman was not available to comment.finance.yahoo