Nestle began in Switzerland in the mid 1860s when founder Henri Nestle created one of the first baby formulas. The start of World War I made it difficult for Nestlé to buy raw ingredients and distribute products. Fresh milk was scarce in Europe, and factories had to sell milk for the public need instead of using it as an ingredient in foods. Nestlé purchased several factories in the U.S. to keep up with the increasing demand for condensed milk and dairy products via government contracts. In 1874, The Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, founded by Americans Charles and George Page, merged with Nestlé after a couple of decades as fierce competitors to form the Nestlé and Anglo-Swiss Milk Company.
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