Content about Nestle

CHAUMBURG, Ill., and SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS, France — Galderma, whose brands include Cetaphil, and The American Academy of Dermatology have announced the creation of the American Academy of Dermatology Translational Biotechnology Fellowship.

GLENDALE, Calif. — Just in time for Easter celebrations, Nestlé USA Confections and Snacks has unveiled a handful of new offerings available in retail stores nationwide.

The collection's highlights for spring include:

Consumers still have a thirst for bottled water. "Bottled water is performing moderately well with respectable growth," said John Sicher, publisher of Beverage Digest. Dollar sales of bottled water were up 7% across food, drug and mass outlets for the 52 weeks ended Dec. 2, 2012, according to SymphonyIRI data. Sicher said he expects bottled water to grow modestly over the next few years.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Swiss skin drug maker Galderma Pharma will acquire another Swiss drug maker also focused on treatments for skin conditions, Galderma said.

Based in Egerkingen, Switzerland, Spirig makes treatments for such conditions as solar damage and skin barrier function impairment, as well as treatments for such precancerous conditions as actinic keratosis. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, though it was noted that Spirig had sales of about $106 million in 2011. The global corporate headquarters of Galderma will remain in Lausanne, Switzerland.

STAMFORD, Conn. – Current Nestlé Waters North America president and CEO Kim Jeffery will step down from the role after 20 years, to assume a nonexecutive chairman position on Feb. 1, 2013, the company announced on Thursday. He will be succeeded by Tim Brown, current president and CEO of Nestlé Canada.

Brown, 49, has served as president and CEO of Nestlé Canada since 2010, overseeing such global brands as Lean Cuisine, Kit Kat and Smarties. Previously, Brown spent 22 years at Nestlé Waters North America as EVP retail operations and general manager.

ST. LOUIS — Nestle Purina PetCare Company is touting its newest pet food brand, Be Happy, as a brand that “celebrate[s] our pets as our happiness heroes.” In just three months, the brand’s Facebook page has grown to more than 100,000 fans. Be Happy is available in two varieties for cats — Deep Sea Duos Crunchies with Ocean Fish and Salmon Flavors, and Poultry Pair-adise Crunchies with Chicken and Turkey Flavors — and two varieties for dogs — beef and chicken.

BROOMFIELD, Colo. — A division of Nestle has bought a stake in a Colorado-based drug maker focused on treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Nestle Drumstick has introduced new varieties to its lineup of treats.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart is introducing prescription pet medications at its stores, the mass merchandise retail chain said Friday.

The company said the new program was designed to make it easier for customers to get branded and generic pet drugs and more convenient to shop for the whole family. More than 60% of American households own a pet, and families spent more than $50 billion on their pets in 2011, according to the American Pet Products Association.

NEW YORK — Pfizer is selling its nutrition business to Nestlé for $11.85 billion, Pfizer said Monday.

Pfizer Nutrition, which had sales of about $2.1 billion in 2011, manufactures and markets nutrition products for children, including baby and toddler formulas, follow-on formulas and maternal and adult nutrition products.

GLENDALE, Calif. — Nestlé is rolling out new seasonal candy offerings for spring.

The company's lineup this year includes the Nestlé Crunch Paul Frank "Julius the Bunny" solid milk chocolate bunny, which will be exclusively sold at Target for a suggested retail price of $3.49. Other items include:

• Nestlé Butterfinger bunny, which will carry an SRP of $3.49 per 5.5-oz. package;

• SweeTarts gummies, which will carry an SRP of $2.49 per 14-oz. package;

SOLON, Ohio — Nestle USA said its prepared foods division is relocated the Hot Pockets and Lean Pockets frozen sandwich and snacks business team from Englewood, Colo., to the company's headquarters in Solon, Ohio.

In Solon, the Hot Pockets and Lean Pockets business, which was acquired from Chef America in 2002, will such food brands as Stouffer's, Lead Cuisine frozen meals; Buitoni refrigerated pastas and sauces; Nestle Toll House baking ingredients and refrigerated cookie dough; Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin and the Nestle Carnation milks.