Nestlé (Malaysia) Bhd managing director Alois Hofbauer was confident that Malaysia would bounce back strongly because the private sector was reacting well to the changes in the economic landscape.

He said the consumer giant had already invested about RM1bil in manufacturing plants in Malaysia over the last five years, reflecting its confidence in the local market.

Addressing the StarLIVE Business Series: Power Talks yesterday, he said the company had never innovated as much as it did the last three years.

Last year, Nestlé Malaysia came out with products such as Milo Nutri G, Nescafé Blend & Brew, Nescafé Mountain Wash, Kit Kat Green Tea and Mat Kool Butterfly ice cream to suit the ever-changing consumer market.

Nestlé also introduced a one-off programme this year to reward innovative ideas from its employees with US$10,000 (RM42,000) and business class tickets to Switzerland.

“We want all the people in our company to come up with ideas. And you know, all the best ones never come from the research and development department,” he joked.

He said Nestlé staff had been with the company for 10 to 20 years and were still very attached to the company.

“The company is their life. We even have a second generation, third generation of employees,” he said.

For almost 150 years, Nestlé has set a benchmark for employee satisfaction across the globe.

While diversity and employees’ welfare have only just reached the top of most corporate agendas, the food-and-beverage giant has been pioneering its “Nestlé Way” for years around the globe, championing simple strategies to develop and sustain conducive working environments, strong leadership and winning cultures.

Hofbauer also said Nestlé went to each factory and engaged with 6,000 employees over eight weeks to explain the company’s situation and what should be done.

“From that engagement, we got 50,000 proposals from our people telling us how we could improve.

“I can tell you we got savings beyond RM100mil a year,” he said, adding that company employees were the best consultants.