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Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Times
Cadbury hires 50 tasters to test chocolate for a living
If you eat chocolate you probably have a repertoire of firm favourites that you return to, but Cadbury still hopes to tempt you into trying something new. Its owner Mondelez International has invested nearly £3.5 million on a new tasting centre in Bournville as it doubles down on the UK as its global research hub for chocolate. Chocolate lovers will regularly join 50 newly-trained tasters at the consumer tasting facility, which opens in June inside an existing building, as the company explores new aromas, textures and flavours — or what it calls 'attributes'. There were thousands of applicants for the roles which will play a key part in product development for much-loved brands including Cadbury, Milka and Toblerone. According to Louise Stigant, the UK managing director, a typical session will see a panel of 12 chocolate tasters sample products and discuss their attributes, with the feedback used to refine the product's development. But this is not an all-day chocolate binge: people can only try things out for a couple of hours before their taste buds become overwhelmed. Stigant said: 'I think it should give us an advantage so that we understand our consumers better. The consumer research piece should then help us to make sure that we're both making quality products consistently and getting clearer about innovation.' Every chocolate product that Mondelez makes and sells in over 150 countries around the world begins its development in the UK. Since 2018 Mondelez has invested £16 million in its research and development facilities here and now has more than750 research personnel including food scientists, nutritionists and engineers. Its latest product launch is a collaboration with Lotus Bakeries' Biscoff. The resulting Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoffhas sold several million pounds worth of units in its first month. Stigant said: 'The textural piece is what people seem to be really intrigued by: the softness, the chocolate and the creaminess, and then there's a crunch with Biscoff. It's that newness that excites people.' She added: 'Having the R&D centre alongside manufacturing has meant that we've been able to move with pace from the concept idea last June through to actually having it on the shelves in the last few weeks.' Cadbury has never stood still. The brand traces its roots back to 1824 when John Cadbury opened a grocer's shop in Bull Street, Birmingham. Among the groceries, he sold cocoa and drinking chocolate. In 1879 John's son George and brother Richard moved their business from Birmingham's city centre to a site four miles away, naming it Bournville after the nearby stream, the Bourn. The move was driven by both the need to expand their business and a desire to provide better living conditions for their employees. Dairy Milk was launched in 1905 and by 1914 had become the company's best-selling product. Over the years since then the chocolate maker has created plenty of other famous products including Roses, Creme Eggs and Heroes. A new era dawned in 2010 when the US consumer goods giant Kraft Foods bought Cadbury for £11.5 billion after a hostile takeover battle that triggered widespread opposition over fears the British firm would lose some of its lustre. Kraft subsequently spun off its global snacks business, including Cadbury, as Mondelez International. Yet over the past ten years Mondelez has invested nearly £300 million in its UK manufacturing footprint, increasing production efficiency by 30 per cent and expanding overall capacity. It has eight sites across the UK, employing over 4,000 people directly and 10,000 indirectly. This includes factories in Bournville and Sheffield, a cocoa bean processing plant in Chirk, north Wales, and a milk processing facility in Marlbrook, Worcestershire. Stigant said the aim is to 'compete in the UK from a manufacturing point of view. We're the number one brand in the UK and have been for quite a period of time, and I think that's an important indicator that the brand is being loved and treated in the way it should be'. FENNELL PHOTOGRAPHY The appetite for Cadbury's products shows no sign of waning despite the popularity of anti-obesity jabs, according to Stigant, who pointed out that the overall snacking category is still growing. It is not all plain sailing, however, given the high price of cocoa and the rise in other input costs. 'We have absorbed some of those and then we've had no alternative but to pass on some of those costs to consumers through either very carefully thought-through pricing or by reducing the size of products.' Products that do not take off are discontinued. Such was the fate of the low-sugar version of Dairy Milk, dropped in 2023 despite a three-year development by 20 scientists and £2 million marketing spend. Next to be put to the consumer test is temperature-activated packaging. Available from June on some limited edition Dairy Milk bars, the packaging features four summer-themed designs: deck chairs, umbrellas, kites and inflatables. Using so-called thermochromic technology, the wrapper changes to reveal a deep blue colouring when each bar is chilled. At Christmas there are likely to be more new treats from the 201-year old firm but they are being kept strictly under wraps for now.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mondelēz International Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend of $0.47 per share
CHICAGO, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) today declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.47 per share of Class A common stock. This dividend is payable on July 14, 2025, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 30, 2025. About Mondelēz International Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2024 net revenues of approximately $36.4 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as Oreo, Ritz, LU, Clif Bar and Tate's Bake Shop biscuits and baked snacks, as well as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Dow Jones Best-in-Class North America and World Indices, formerly Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. Visit or follow the company on X at Contacts: Tracey Noe +1-847-943-5678 news@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mondelēz International Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend of $0.47 per share
CHICAGO, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) today declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.47 per share of Class A common stock. This dividend is payable on July 14, 2025, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 30, 2025. About Mondelēz International Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2024 net revenues of approximately $36.4 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as Oreo, Ritz, LU, Clif Bar and Tate's Bake Shop biscuits and baked snacks, as well as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Dow Jones Best-in-Class North America and World Indices, formerly Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. Visit or follow the company on X at Contacts: Tracey Noe +1-847-943-5678 news@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Newsweek
06-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Katy Perry Business Deal Sparks Fury
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Katy Perry has sparked fury after announcing a business deal with a confectionary company that operates in Russia. The singer is the latest in a string of celebrities to face criticism for promoting Mondelēz brands. Perry has launched a new campaign with chocolate company Milka. But campaigners have criticized the deal because Milka is owned by Mondelēz, which continues to do business in Russia. They say celebrities should not support companies who pay taxes in Russia, to voice their moral opposition to its war with Ukraine and to put economic pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime. Perry's representatives declined to comment. Newsweek contacted Mondelēz by email to comment on this story. Why It Matters Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, there has been international pressure for companies around the world to cease business operations in the country. Katy Perry at the 2013 American Music Awards held on November 24, 2013 at The Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California. Katy Perry at the 2013 American Music Awards held on November 24, 2013 at The Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California. Photo by: zz/Galaxy/STAR MAX/IPx 2013 11/24/13 However, many remained and American companies that do business in Russia contribute to the Russian economy via profit taxes. According to January research from campaign group B4Ukraine and the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) Institute, Mondelēz paid Russia $62 million in profit taxes in 2023, making it the fifth biggest tax contributor out of the American companies that have continued to do business in Russia. Mondelēz has remained in Russia, previously telling the Financial Times that investors did not "morally care" whether companies continued to do business there. Perry has also recently attracted criticism for participating in Jeff Bezos's 11-minute Blue Origin spaceflight on April 14. Some people suggested she was out of touch to participate in the flight during a time of economic hardship, while others raised concerns about the environmental impact of the flight. What To Know The campaign offers fans who buy Milka chocolate bars a chance to win behind-the-scenes experience with Perry during her The Lifetimes Tour. Other high-profile figures who have recently worked with the company include Swedish singer Benjamin Ingrosso who, in December 2024, was criticized by MEP Karin Karlsbro for collaborating with Marabou, a Mondelez chocolate brand. In 2023, several Swedish companies boycotted Marabou because of its presence in Russia. In January, England footballers Jill Scott and Lauren James became ambassadors for another Mondelez brand, Cadbury. In the same month, Mondelēz teamed up with American rapper Post Malone to launch limited-edition Oreo cookies. In March, Mondelēz announced partnerships with nine current and former NCAA athletes. Newsweek contacted representatives for Ingrosso, Scott, James and Post Malone by email to comment on this story. Responding to the latest deal, campaigners called on Perry to reconsider it. In December 2024, when the partnership was rumored but had not been announced, B4Ukraine wrote a letter to Perry urging her "to decline this partnership and stand with Ukraine against those who fund its suffering." The letter, seen by Newsweek said: "As a global icon and advocate for human rights, your voice carries significant influence, shaping the perspectives of millions around the world." It added: "We believe that your values are starkly at odds with the actions of Mondelēz in Russia. By maintaining business ties in a nation that flagrantly violates human rights and international law, Mondelēz is indirectly contributing to perpetuating violence, war crimes, and crimes against children. "We believe that your values are starkly at odds with the actions of Mondelēz in Russia. By maintaining business ties in a nation that flagrantly violates human rights and international law, Mondelēz is indirectly contributing to perpetuating violence, war crimes, and crimes against children." B4Ukraine said they did not receive a response from Perry's team. Meanwhile, other campaigners also hit out at Perry. What People Are Saying Nobel Peace Prize winning Ukrainian human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk questioned Perry's support of Mondelēz. "Just a few days ago, Russia carried out a massive missile and drone attack against Kyiv," she said. "This attack lasted nearly 11 hours, struck multiple residential neighborhoods, destroyed homes, killed 12 people, and injured more than 90 people. Russia still kills civilians in Ukraine because Russia has the money to produce and buy missiles and drones. In particular, because some Western businesses still sell their goods in Russia and pay taxes to the Russian budget, 40 percent of which goes to military purposes. Celebrities who support such companies should clearly understand what they are doing." Karin Karlsboro, a Swedish Liberal MEP called on Perry to end her collaboration with Mondelēz. She said: "Companies like Mondelēz are helping Russia to continue its bloody war against Ukraine. We all share a moral duty to stand with Ukraine, and in times like these, deeply disappointing to see a beloved artist lend her name to a company still active in Russia. "I truly hope Katy Perry reconsiders and ends her collaboration with Mondelēz. Now, more than ever, we must stand united, uphold the sanctions, and do everything we can to stop the flow of money fueling Putin's war machine." Mondelez chief executive Dick Van de Put in his Financial Times interview: "I don't think [investors] morally care." "If you have an important Russian business, the hit on the company would be huge, and that would be a different discussion." What Happens Next Perry is yet to respond to criticism. Her tour, which started in April, continues until December 2025.
Associated Press
18-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Mondelēz International Continues Progress Against 'Snacking Made Right' Priorities
CHICAGO, April 17, 2025 /3BL/ - Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) released its 2024 Snacking Made Right Report, highlighting the Company's progress against its Sustainability goals. This year's report underscores Mondelēz International's ongoing dedication to making snacking more sustainable and reiterates its commitment to prioritizing Sustainability as the fourth pillar in its long-term Strategy – alongside Growth, Execution and Culture.[1] The report also illustrates the Company's continued commitment to transparency, showcasing meaningful progress toward its efforts to drive more sustainable and mindful snacking. Highlights of the company's 2024 progress include: 'We continue to prioritize Sustainability as the fourth pillar in our long-term Strategy, as we believe that a more sustainable business adds value over the long-term,' said Dirk Van de Put, Chairman and CEO, Mondelēz International. 'With the right strategy, the right brands, the right geographic footprint, and the right people – I'm confident that we remain solidly positioned for long-term, sustainable growth.' The company's approach to delivering progress is two-pronged, including working closely upstream and downstream across the supply chain and playing a leadership role in industry and sector initiatives. 'I'm proud of the consistency of our approach and the strong progress we continue to achieve against our Sustainability goals in 2024,' said Christine Montenegro McGrath, Chief Impact & Sustainability Officer, Mondelēz International. 'We remain focused on making an impact where we think people and our planet need it most, and I am encouraged by the results of this focus.' About Mondelēz International Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. With 2024 net revenues of approximately $36.4 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as Oreo, Ritz, LU, Clif Bar and Tate's Bake Shop biscuits and baked snacks, as well as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor's 500, Nasdaq 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit or follow the company on X at [1] We aim to regularly and transparently report our progress. You can find additional details on Mondelēz International's ESG goals and reported information within the About This Report section of our 2024 Snacking Made Right Report Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Mondelez International
