Business

Nestlé on Criticism It's 'Exploiting' Flint: 'Water Is an Emotional Issue'

November 17, 2018, 6:02 PM

Nestlé Waters is responding to criticism that its new ads exploit the Flint water crisis to boost the company's poor reputation in Michigan. 


Nestlé says it consulted some Flint residents before running ads that have been slammed as tone-deaf.

The company this week rolled out radio and television ads highlighting its free water bottle distribution program in Flint amid ongoing criticism over its siphoning of millions of gallons of Michigan ground water at almost no cost.

In a statement issued to Deadline Detroit Friday evening, Nestlé Waters says, "We understand water is an emotional issue, and we appreciate the passion people everywhere have about it." The company says it also "engaged a number of community members and stakeholders in the process of creating the ads."

Additional ads showcasing Nestlé's "support for the state of Michigan" will roll out in the coming weeks, the statement says.

Here are the comments in full:

Over the past year, there have been news stories about us and our operations in Michigan. Some of these stories are misleading or incomplete, and we thought it was important for our neighbors to hear from us directly to learn more about our operations and our contributions to the community.

Over the next few weeks, we will be running TV and radio ads in a number of markets across the state, including Grand Rapids, Lansing, Detroit and Traverse City. We will also run digital and social ads. The overall theme focuses on our support for the state of Michigan. This is the first of three ads; the others will illustrate our commitments beyond Flint. We have not only provided economic support for the state but have also led environmental stewardship initiatives and we’ve been actively involved in local communities over the past 16 years. We have employees here who call Michigan home, and we want people know that we’re committed to the state.

It’s important for Michiganders to know that while we have never drawn water from or near the watershed that supplies Flint – our groundwater sources are 120 miles away from Flint – we are committed to helping the people of Flint deal with the crisis they have endured. From May 2018 through the end of this year, we anticipate that we will have donated approximately 3.2 million bottles of water to the City of Flint and served our communities more than 1,100 gallons of water from our Ice Mountain Hydration Station. Donating water in times of need is something we have done and will continue to do in Flint, throughout the state of Michigan and across the country. We’ve been working closely with Mayor Weaver and members of the Flint community to understand their current needs, and how we can best help meet those needs. We have never stopped helping Flint.

 

We understand water is an emotional issue, and we appreciate the passion people everywhere have about it. We are just as passionate, particularly when it comes to ensuring long-term sustainability of Michigan’s resources. We engaged a number of community members and stakeholders in the process of creating the ads, and we’re proud of the work that we do every day to support many communities across the state.“

— Violet Ikonomova



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