India remains central to Nestle’s noodles growth strategy, even as the Swiss food and beverages company prepares to expand the category in Europe and the Americas, global CEO Philipp Navratil said on Thursday.
Speaking during the company’s September-quarter earnings call, Navratil said there was substantial room to attract more consumers and increase market share in India, Maggi’s largest market globally.
It already has a "well-established base" in the AOA (Asia, Oceania and Africa) zone, which includes India, but has considerable headroom for further growth through increased category penetration and market share gains, Navratil said.
"With noodles, it's a bit the other way around. We have a well-established base in Zone AOA, especially India, Malaysia and Singapore. And we have lots of headroom to grow here – driving further category penetration and market share," he said.
Navratil said he is also excited about opportunities beyond Asia.
"We have ambitious expansion plans in Europe and the Americas, built on clear consumer insights. Noodles is an attractive category, as consumers increasingly move between traditional meals and smaller, convenient eating occasions," he added.
With over 5.7 billion servings, India maintained its position as the "largest market for Maggi globally", with Maggi noodles maintaining market leadership in the country, according to the company's FY26 annual report.
Nestle SA reported total sales of 22.8 billion Swiss francs (CHF) in the September quarter of 2026, with organic growth of 4 per cent, driven by 2.8 per cent real internal growth (RIG) and 1.1 per cent pricing.
In this, Nestle's Zone AOA continued to deliver strong growth momentum during the September quarter, with India emerging as one of the key contributors.
Anna Manz, Chief Financial Officer of Nestle SA, said India recorded 20 per cent organic growth during the quarter, while the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Japan, and Malaysia and Singapore also reported double-digit growth.
"Momentum in AOA continued. India delivered 20 per cent OG(organic growth) , and we had double-digit growth in Middle East & North Africa, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore," Manz said.
Last week, Nestle India reported a 35.81 per cent year-on-year rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,009.61 crore for the September quarter of FY27, led by double-digit volume growth.
Revenue from sale of products rose 20.45 per cent to Rs 6,782.17 crore in the September quarter.
Nestle India has a presence across categories such as noodles, dairy products, confectionery, coffee and nutrition, with Maggi noodles among its key consumer brands.