Procurement with Purpose: Creating Shared Value Across the Supply Chain

Catch our onsite interview with Alison Coudene, Global Head of Procurement at Nestlé, discusses how her team is redefining procurement as a key lever for Creating Shared Value (CSV). This approach not only strengthens supply chains but also empowers communities and mitigates long-term risks.

Here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll learn:

Procurement That Builds Economies

Creating Shared Value (CSV) is grounded in the idea that businesses thrive when the communities they rely on thrive as well. To achieve this, procurement leaders must move beyond cost-cutting and build deeper, more impactful relationships across the entire ecosystem.

For example, collaborations with the International Cocoa Initiative in Côte d'Ivoire and the Development Research Foundation in India offer vital insights and solutions that Nestlé couldn’t achieve alone. By focusing on areas with high environmental and social risks, these partnerships not only mitigate operational risks but also build long-term resilience in the supply chain, ensuring sustainability for the future.

Mitigate Risk, Strengthen Resilience

By identifying high-risk social and environmental areas, Nestlé focuses on strategic interventions that deliver long-term supply security. These efforts don’t just tick ESG boxes but reduce operational risk and build resilience where it matters most.

Satellite Tech, AI & Local Wisdom

From satellite monitoring and geolocation tech with Airbus to AI-optimized logistics and supplier collaboration, Alison shares how smart tech enables smarter decisions. But she’s equally clear:

“Technology is only an accelerator. We still need the people, the partnerships, and the governance to make it work.”

Innovation Starts Small

One of the most powerful examples? A plastic bottle trick in Vietnam that radically reduced water use and caught on like wildfire among farmers. This kind of on-the-ground ingenuity is what happens when communities are empowered, not just engaged.

Train Locally, Scale Globally

Nestlé’s “train the trainer” approach taps into local credibility to drive long-term behavioural change across supplier networks. The result? More impact, with fewer resources and more sustainable outcomes.

Watch the full video for exclusive insights on how CSV can reshape your approach to supply chains and sustainability.