Switzerland expressed concern over Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent order to place stakes in Nestle SA and French supermarket chain Auchan under temporary administration by a local company. The Swiss government views this move as a worrying development and is collaborating with Nestle to reverse the actions.
According to the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the forced administration of Nestle’s Russian operations was ordered by decree on September 17. SECO and the Swiss foreign ministry have been working closely with Nestle for several weeks, providing diplomatic support to help the company present its position to Russian authorities and seek a revocation of the forced administration.
This action by Russia is the latest in a series of efforts to tighten control over foreign-owned companies since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. A 2025 estimate by Moscow law firm NSP indicated that the Russian state had already seized over $50 billion worth of private property, including assets from foreign companies. Nestle stated on Friday that it would take "all necessary steps" to protect its interests, while Auchan declined to comment on the situation.
