Nestle India is gearing up to defend itself once again after the Food Safety and Standards Authority India (FSSAI) decided to move the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order lifting the ban on Maggi noodles.
Replying to a query on whether the company was disappointed with the FSSAI’s move, Nestle India Chairman and MD Suresh Narayanan told BusinessLine , “I think every entity has the right to exercise its option for escalating matters, and FSSAI has chosen to do so. It is their prerogative…All I can say is that as a company, Nestle stands by quality. We have been vindicated on quality and safety and we hope we will be able to defend ourselves to the best of our abilities with all humility and professionalism.” He was speaking on the sidelines of the Shared Value Summit 2015. BusinessLine is a media partner for the summit.
The company re-launched its Maggi noodles earlier this month and has re-started production of the instant noodle brand at three factories in Karnataka, Goa and Punjab. Asked how soon the company expects to start production at its other two plants in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Narayanan said, “The progress is fairly in advanced stages in terms of engagement with authorities.”
He said Nestle India is in various stages of completing documentation and engaging with authorities to be able to sell Maggi noodles in the eight states where the company still requires clearances. “We have enough evidence and we are in complete compliance with the directive of the Bombay High Court,” he added.
He said he was overwhelmed with consumer response to Maggi’s re-launch. “The response is heart warming….It puts extra burden on my shoulders that we have to focus on satisfying our consumers in all possible manner.”
Meanwhile, in his address at the summit, Narayanan said, “Nestle can prosper if communities around it thrive.” “Creating shared value sits firmly atop our strong compliance culture, coupled with providing safe and high-quality products and commitment to grow sustainably in compliance with local laws and codes of conduct and protection of natural resources,” he said.