Nestlé axes in-house design team

Nestlé UK has disposed of its in-house design division, Group Creative Services, in an arrangement with US-based packaging design specialist Anthem Worldwide.

The services and 50-plus employees of Group Creative Services will transfer to Anthem, but remain based at Nestlé UK’s York office. It is Anthem’s first move into Europe.

Nestlé UK corporate affairs and communications director David Hudson says the transfer allows the company to ‘focus on its core business: the manufacturing, marketing and selling of its products’.

Anthem will also pitch for non-competitive work outside the company. It is not yet known how the move affects Nestlé; UK’s roster groups – Bloom, Coley Porter Bell and Design LMC – which have previously been required to pitch against Group Creative.