News

« Headlines

Nestlé Children's Prize to end

23.01.08 Anna Richardson

The Nestlé Children's Book Prize is to end after 23 years, in a mutual decision between Nestlé and organiser Booktrust.

Booktrust said that it had been reviewing its priorities and "how prizes and awards fit its strategic objectives", adding that "it is timely that both parties move away from the prize, confident that increased importance has been placed on children’s books".

In addition, Nestlé explained that it was increasingly moving its community support towards nutrition, health and wellness issues.

In a statement, the companies added: "The teams at Nestlé and Booktrust working on the Nestlé Children’s Book Prize are immensely proud of the contribution that the award has made over the past 23 years.

"Nestlé and Booktrust would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the Book Prize – authors, judges, publishers, teachers and the thousands of children – which has helped inspire children and improve the quality of children’s literature."

Childrens Todays Picks Media Anna Richardson Booktrust Prize Nestlé

Add comment

By posting on this website you agree to the Bookseller Comments Policy. Comments go direct to live, please be relevant, brief and definitely not abusive. Report any "unsuitable" comments by clicking the links.

Name

Comment

Email

Comments on this article

By ehsan

giving prize for chilidren authors encouarage them to create more and better works which promote the children cultres and awareness.So it is not good to end the book prize.

23 Jan 08 10:57

Unsuitable?

By Mike Brady

Curious that neither Nestle nor the Book Trust refer to the bad publicity having a sponsor which is one of the most boycotted companies on the planet for practices that endanger children. Nestlé's own Global Public Affairs Manager admits Nestlé is 'widely boycotted', targeted over its aggressive marketing of baby foods in breach of international standards. Gold Medal Winner, Sean Taylor, refused the Nestlé cheque at the last award ceremony and made his concerns public. So well done to him and everyone else who has helped to raise awareness of Nestlé malpractice and show that the company is not an appropriate sponsor until it changes its baby food marketing practices and addresses other concerns. Mike Brady, Baby Milk Action http://www.babymilkaction.org/

23 Jan 08 12:17

Unsuitable?

By Phil

I think this news is terribly sad. I think there could always be more importance placed on children's books-why stop at "increased importance"? Given the children's genre is now going to be without JK Rowling, I would argue that 2008 and beyond could be one of the most important for the children's genre. £40m+ is a big gap to fill. However, I am glad of the reasoning behind Nestlé's decision. Possibly I have been influenced by the overtly PC climate we live in, but I always thought a children's book prize and an international chocolate manufacturer were increasingly uncomfortable bedfellows.

23 Jan 08 12:21

Unsuitable?

By Pete Moss

Is it just me or does anyone else think that the back story is this: Nestlé don't like the negative publicity, so they've pulled out their funding leaving the Booktrust with no sponsor, which means no prize? Personally I am glad to see the end to Nestlé's involvement.

23 Jan 08 12:38

Unsuitable?

By Julie Dyball

Nothing to do with the Boycott then?!

23 Jan 08 13:05

Unsuitable?

By Peter Cox

Good news, and long overdue. Booktrust was, to put it mildly, hopeless naïve to get into bed with Nestlé in the first place. What with the infant formula disaster an more recent charges of failing to act to end child slavery in its cocoa supply chain in the Ivory Coast, Nestlé’s involvement in children’s publishing was simply grotesque. Sean Taylor’s rejection of the most recent prize (not referenced above – why not?) must have been the final nail in the coffin. Let’s hope Booktrust can find a more worthy sponsor.

23 Jan 08 13:42

Unsuitable?

By Pauline Kisanga

Congratulations for ending the Nestle Book Prize. I think your cause is so worthy that id does not need such an uncomfortable mix of Nestle. Nestle is a cause of indirect children's illness and malnutrition in Africa due to their aggressing marketing of their infant food products. Majority of families cannot afford to buy and do not have knowledge enough to use their products safely but Nestle uses subtle means to influence them or our policy makers to make large purchases of these. Nestle is one of the worst violators of the WHO Code of Marketing and continues to be one of the most boycotted companies on the planet for practices that endanger children. Nestle is NOT an appropriate sponsor for projects relating to children or mothers of young children. I fear their mentioning that they now want to move on to supporting nutrition and health as those are other improper areas for Nestle involvement. Nestlé's own Global Public Affairs Manager admits Nestlé is 'widely boycotted', targeted over its aggressive marketing in breach of international standards.You have done Africa proud by your action to refuse Nestle Book prize. We hope our own governments will learn a thing or two from this publicicity.

24 Jan 08 08:28

Unsuitable?

See Also