Fast forward to the present, and the company he went on to found, Nestle S.A., is the largest food and beverage company in the world, employing over a quarter of a million people and with operations in nearly every corner of the globe.

For Alois Hofbauer, general manager of Nestle Taiwan, the company’s success is no coincidence. “Nestle is built on a long-term vision, and does not favor short-term profit,” he explains. “As society evolves and as the needs of the consumers evolve, so does the company keep up or even lead in this development.”

“In the old days, good taste and convenience was good enough but today you want more. You want not only good taste and convenience but also products that are good for your diet,” says Hofbauer.

In fact, all Nestle products are formulated under a nutritional screening called “60/40+” the “plus” meaning “nutritional value,” so a product from Nestle has to have a superior nutritional value than its closest competitor, explains the Austrian native.

Another factor that can be attributed to Nestle’s success, according to Hofbauer, is that the company has always been very transparent and open, not only in its business practices but increasingly with its consumers as well. Today nearly all Nestle products include “nutritional compass” labels, which “talk to consumers in a language they understand” with “no nonsense, clear information” about nutritional value and benefits, tips for healthy lifestyles, and consumer services, explains Hofbauer.

Having a global perspective is another factor the general manager says has helped Nestle become the food and nutrition giant it is today. “Nestle has always seen its base of operation as the world. It was never narrowed down to Switzerland.” A pioneer in globalization, Nestle started operations in Shanghai, China over 100 years ago, he notes.

And at the end of the day it’s also the dedication of its people, he says. “What motivates us is that we believe in the company.” And because the company has always been able to keep many of its employees for several years and some even for a lifetime, it’s an advantage because “you have people who really know what they’re talking about,” adds Hofbauer, who himself has been with Nestle for 16 years.

“We have strong Swiss roots in the best tradition: reliable and quality-conscious. This is all ingrained in the company DNA,” sums up Hofbauer.

Despite Nestle’s already remarkable global presence, it shows no signs of stopping its expansion. The recent acquisitions of Gerber and Novartis Medical Nutrition (now Nestle Healthcare Nutrition) have made Nestle number two globally in the healthcare nutrition, and number one in the largest baby food market of the United States, further affirming Nestle as the world’s leading nutrition, health, and wellness company.

Particularly in Taiwan, the impact of the acquisitions can be readily felt in the senior citizens’ healthcare nutrition segment, because Taiwan is an aging society, with one of the lowest birthrates in the world and an increasing life expectancy, remarks Hofbauer.

But not only are senior citizens picking up on this health trend, so is the rest of Taiwan, says Hofbauer. In Taiwan, people have achieved a certain quality of life and living standards so they really care about what they eat and study the labels in the products, he observes. “I think in this sense Taiwan is a leader in the greater China region.”

The environment in Taiwan today is among the best in Asia, and the quality of life in the past 20 years has improved tremendously, says the Taipei resident, who describes the capital city as “a big city with all the advantages of a big city but also with the advantage of being close to nature,” located minutes away from scenic spots such as Yangminshan and Tamsui.

Still, Taiwan is a “very high pressure society” where kids are constantly at school or cram schools and most mothers work. “It’s tough being a mother! The fathers usually have it easier,” says Hofbauer with a smile.

Nestle recognizes the need to educate consumers in Taiwan and partners with the local government and other associations to build up health consciousness via events such as “healthy city” drives, as well as power-walking events and “energetic family” festivals throughout Taipei City.

In addition, Nestle Taiwan employees actively participate in health events like the Taipei 101 Climbathon, and “wellness” drives at retail partner stores offering free health services.

“We are part of Taiwan and part of Taipei so we have to be an active citizen,” Hofbauer stresses. “Our company slogan ‘Good food, Good life’ — this is actually what the company is all about.”