Nestlé: Cat food and therapeutics support Q3 performance

The pet portfolio of Nestlé posted a 7% year-over-year (YoY) increase in sales, reaching CHF 4.6 billion ($5.67B/€5.06B) in the third quarter (Q3) of fiscal year (FY) 2026. 

Purina recorded organic growth of 5.3% in Q3 2026, up from 0.9% a year earlier, while RIG accelerated to 4.3% from 1.3%. Reported sales rose 7% year on year, from CHF 4.35 billion ($5.28B/€4.71B) to CHF 4.66 billion ($5.65B/€5.B).

Pricing in pet care products turned positive in Q3 2026, reaching 1%, compared with -0.4% in Q3 2025. For the first nine months, pricing rose to 0.9% from -0.5% a year earlier.

Overall, Nestlé reported total sales of CHF 22.8 billion ($27.7B/€24.7B) during the quarter, up 5.2% YoY, with organic growth of 4.0%.

Strong cat food sales 

The manufacturer attributed the performance to broad-based growth across geographies, driven by continued strength in cat food. On the other side, dog remained soft, partly reflecting the impact of warmer weather on consumption.

Meanwhile, growth in therapeutics and supplements in Europe reached double digits, supported by focused investments. 

In Asia, Oceania and Africa (AOA), Pro Plan, ONE and Felix all recorded strong growth, while continued investment in wet cat food reinforced Nestlé’s leadership in the category across key markets.

Regional performance 

Petcare gained market share and delivered strong RIG across all segments. In Zone Americas, Petcare accounted for 30% of sales and achieved mid-single-digit organic growth, supported by strong performance in Latin America.

In Europe, Petcare also contributed 30% of zone sales and recorded mid-single-digit organic growth. Wet cat food remained a key growth contributor, alongside double-digit organic growth in therapeutics and supplements, as well as strong e-commerce performance. Growth spanned markets and brands, with Felix and Pro Plan delivering double-digit organic growth.

In Asia, Oceania and Africa (AOA), Petcare represented 4% of sales, with organic growth accelerating to double digits. Growth strengthened in emerging markets and remained stable in developed markets. Pro Plan, ONE and Felix recorded strong growth, while continued investment in wet cat food reinforced the company’s leadership in the category across key markets.

Nine-month overview 

For the first nine months of FY2026, Purina reported sales of CHF 13.6 billion ($17B/€14.69B), compared with CHF 13.58 billion ($16.5B / €14.7B) in the same period of 2025. 

Organic growth reached 3.5%, compared with 1.2% in the same period of 2025.

Emerging-market petcare delivered around 10% organic growth from January to September 2026, double the rate recorded a year earlier. 

Nestlé CEO Laurent Freixe pointed to rising pet populations and demand for higher-quality nutrition as key growth drivers, while highlighting the company’s investment in consumer awareness and category development.

Guidance

Nestlé reaffirmed its full-year guidance, expecting organic growth of 3% to 4%, with RIG accelerating compared with 2025, supported by its focused growth plans.

UTOP margin is expected to improve compared with 2025, with the second-half margin forecast to remain broadly in line with the first half, excluding any tariff refunds. Free cash flow is expected to exceed CHF 9 billion ($10.95B/€9.78B). 

Following a Russian presidential decree issued on 17 September 2026, Nestlé lost operational control of the business and deconsolidated its Russian operations from its financial results at the end of September. 

According to the company, the deconsolidation of its Russian operations is expected to have a limited impact on the full-year results. The company therefore continues to expect the second-half margin to be broadly in line with the first half, excluding any benefits from tariff refunds. 

Nestlé has operated in Russia since the 1990s, with six factories producing coffee, pet food and infant formula, among other products. The business employs around 7,000 people and contributed approximately 2% of Group sales.