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Global consumer goods leader Nestlé has declared it will eliminate 16,000 jobs over the next two years, as the recently appointed chief executive the company's fresh leader pushes a strategy to prioritize products offering the “highest potential returns”.

The Swiss company needs to “adapt more quickly” to stay aligned with a dynamic global environment and embrace a “results-oriented culture” that does not accept ceding ground to competitors, the executive stated.

He replaced ex-chief executive the previous leader, who was dismissed in the ninth month.

The job cuts were revealed on the fourth weekday as the corporation reported stronger sales figures for the initial three quarters of the current year, with expanded revenue across its key product lines, encompassing hot drinks and snacks.

The world's largest packaged food and drink firm, this industry leader operates hundreds of product lines, including well-known names in coffee and snacks.

Nestlé aims to remove 12,000 professional roles on top of four thousand other roles across the board over the coming 24 months, it announced publicly.

The lay-offs will result in savings of the food giant approximately one billion Swiss francs per annum as a component of an sustained expense reduction program, it confirmed.

Its equity price rose by more than seven percent shortly after its performance report and layoff announcement were announced.

Nestlé's leader commented: “We are fostering a organizational ethos that welcomes a results-driven attitude, that does not accept competitive setbacks, and where achievement is incentivized... The world is changing, and the company requires accelerated transformation.”

This transformation would encompass “hard but necessary actions to reduce headcount,” he said.

Financial expert Diana Radu said the announcement signalled that the new CEO seeks to “enhance clarity to areas that were formerly less clear in the company's efficiency strategy.”

The workforce reductions, she said, are likely an attempt to “recalibrate projections and rebuild investor confidence through concrete measures.”

His forerunner was dismissed by Nestlé in the start of last fall following a probe into reports from staff that he failed to report a private liaison with a junior employee.

Its departing chairman the ex-chairman moved up his leaving schedule and resigned in the corresponding timeframe.

It was reported at the time that shareholders blamed Mr Bulcke for the firm's continuing challenges.

The previous year, an investigation discovered its baby formula and foods available in emerging markets contained unhealthily high levels of sugar.

The analysis, by a Swiss NGO and the International Baby Food Action Network, established that in several situations, the equivalent goods marketed in developed nations had no added sugar.

• The corporation operates hundreds of product lines worldwide.
• Workforce reductions will impact 16,000 employees over the coming 24 months.
• Cost reductions are anticipated to reach CHF 1 billion each year.
• Share price rose significantly following the announcement.