The request was submitted by KS Logistika and covers five Nestle-owned entities in Russia, according to the Russian newspaper Kommersant, which cited a source familiar with the matter. If approved, the move could ultimately lead to a change in ownership, Reuters reported.
Nestle said it had not been contacted by Russian authorities regarding the request. The company said it continues to operate its offices and factories in Russia while complying with local regulations.
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The Kremlin did not immediately comment.
KS Logistika reported revenue of just 1.6 million roubles ($18,735) in 2025 and is believed to be acting on behalf of third-party interests, Kommersant reported. Reuters could not independently verify the newspaper’s information.
The request reportedly stems from Nestle’s decision not to expand its production capacity in Russia and to stop exporting products manufactured at its Russian factories.
Russia has increasingly tightened its control over foreign-owned businesses since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. A decree signed by Putin in 2023 gives Moscow the authority to place assets belonging to companies from countries deemed “unfriendly” under temporary administration.
The mechanism has already been used in cases involving major Western companies. Russian authorities have previously taken control of the local businesses of French food company Danone and Danish brewer Carlsberg.
Temporary administration does not automatically mean that an asset will be permanently seized, according to Russian consultant Natalia Popravko, who spoke to Kommersant. However, some businesses placed under temporary control have ultimately been confiscated or sold to Russian investors.
The potential financial stakes are substantial. Industry analyst Mikhail Burmistrov estimated Nestle’s Russian business could be worth between 160 billion and 175 billion roubles, or roughly $1.9 billion to $2.1 billion. The estimate includes about 120 billion to 125 billion roubles in assets and brands, as well as 40 billion to 50 billion roubles in undistributed profits.
Nestle operates six production facilities in Russia, located in the Kaluga, Vologda, Samara, Vladimir, Perm and Krasnodar regions. Its Russian operations produce coffee, confectionery, baby food and pet food.
The request therefore puts a major international consumer brand at the center of Russia’s continuing struggle over foreign-owned assets — and raises fresh questions about the future of Nestle’s operations in the country.
