Okay, so how well do I know Nestle? Well enough, considering I’ve been seeing and reading about their products at home right from childhood. Even now, give me the opportunity, and I’d happily dig into a Cerelac box!
Growing up till adulthood in the Gulf, I’ve seen and tasted the real Nestle at its best. The world famous KitKat is not famous for nothing. They’d fly off the shelves in supermarkets more than Galaxies or Dairy Milks or any other chocolate for that matter. And it was my family favorite too, especially the new single big bar KitKat launched in 2001.
I was also an enthusiastic memeber of the famous Neslte Club headquartered in Dubai, and recieved mouthwatering recipes of deserts and dishes that used Nestle Maggie Stock, Condensed Milk, Cream, Tea milk etc. I still treasure them. Everything from their club membership to recipes and competitions were free and the club service was great. Maggie Noodles was like no other. We lived more on Nestle’s world famous full cream milk powder called Nido than fresh milk! And how they’d pamper us with free coloring boxes and gifts in return for a certain number of Nido tin lids!
I got all these great memories, recipes books and gifts to India when we shifted base, expecting the very same experience with Nestle. About 2 days after landing here, I naturally got myself a KitKat and opened it excitedly, expecting the same taste. The rude shock? I couldn’t recognize KitKat at all, had it not been for those familiar’fingers’ and wrapping. If you ever get hold of an imported KitKat, you’ll know there’s a world of a difference. Or if you have eaten the KitKat that Nestle makes and sells abroad, you’ll know what I’m talking about. The Indian KitKats would NEVER sell abroad.
And my beloved Maggie Noodles? They stick to the vessel when I make them! If I put a little less water to make them just right, it would still be hard and undone; and a little more water, it would eventually become soggy. I couldn’t understand how they showed superbly made noodles, each noodle’strip’ separate from the other in their advertisements. I tentatively tried Top Ramen and Zoop noodles and was delighted to discover that they cooked excellently and tasted better than Maggie noodles by a ton.Their Veg Atta noodles variant is the only saving grace when compared to their noodles I grew up eating. But unfortunately I have to always add a little salt when I make them, without which the taste is a little too bland to relish it.
As far as Nestle Soups goes, it was the first time I tasted them, so they’re good. But when I tried Knorr, their sheer variety and taste easily outruns Nestle’s soups any day. Rainy days, Nestle, rainy days.
I was also surprised that their fresh Cream that come in small tins were not available everywhere. Only those stores that had some imported stuff would have them and they are slightly pricey too, at Rs 60( some sell them at Rs.80 too). And to top it, its not made here, which surprised me. Had Nestle manufactured it in India and advertised it well, they’d give Amul’s Fresh Cream a run for their money, especially since the cream also comes in 3 other lip smacking flavours.
Maggie Stock? Forget it. Well, I myself actually did forget it because I never got to see it anywhere so far.
Can’t blame them for not going big on Nido. Nothing sells better than fresh buffalo milk in my beloved country, no matter how big a name and how hot selling or famous a processed milk brand might be else where. I personally wouldn’t buy it ether, considering my own new found love for fresh milk!
And my dear Nestle Club? Never heard of anything like it here. I wonder if the Nestle folk even know the concept exists else where in the world. But they should know it’s one great way to get kid and adults together with their products, organizing meaningful events and cooking competitions, dishing out recipe books and what not. The idea itself would be novel in its appeal. Ah, how I miss it now that I think of it.
So my dear Nestle’ers, you are no doubt an MNC, and a reputed one at that, but surely these inputs cannot go unnoticed. Surely some of your biggies must have gone on business trips abroad and eaten a Nestle choc to realise how different they taste back home? Where are the universal common recipes for your eatables going?
Whatever you do, don’t, at least for Henri Nestle’s sake, compromise on quality and taste. He’d roll in his grave if he ever tasted your Indian version of his products.