16,000 Jobs Cut to Save the CPG Giant Nestlé (October 17, 2025)

Nestlé just announced 16,000 job cuts, one of the largest in modern CPG history. Jenny Rae and Namaan break down what this massive restructuring says about the company’s new strategy, how it mirrors the playbooks of Kraft Heinz and Hershey, and what it reveals about the future of global consumer brands. They unpack how Nestlé defines “winning,” why the market rewarded layoffs, and what every business leader can learn about growth, portfolio management, and decision-making under pressure. Links mentioned in the episode:

• Nestle to cut 16,000 jobs as new CEO ignites 'turnaround fire' (Reuters)
• Nestle earnings
• Nestle portfolio of brands
• Kraft-Heinz breakup signals the end of scale at all costs (previous episode)

Chapters

• 06:26 Understanding the Layoffs
• 08:50 Metrics for Winning in Business
• 11:04 Strategic Cash Deployment
• 13:09 Job Cuts and Sales Growth
• 14:22 The Reality Behind Spending Trends
• 17:03 Navigating Consumer Confidence
• 21:23 Analyzing Nestle's Growth Beyond the Headlines
• 25:20 Where Will the Capital Go?
• 27:12 Lessons from Nestle's Business Model