Ukrainian National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) has added Mondelez International, an American multinational confectionery, food and beverage company, to the list of international sponsors of war. NACP reported this on Facebook, Ukrinform says.
"After the start of Russia's full-scale war, many businesses that care about their reputation left Russia. But this is not the case with Mondelez International. Apparently, its managers are not concerned about the fact that by paying substantial taxes to the state budget of Russia, the company contributes to the supply of the aggressor's army," NACP emphasized.
According to NACP, the interests of the company, which has an annual revenue of about USD 26 billion and operates in 160 countries, are represented on the Russian market by Mon'delis Rus LLC, which has three factories. Bolshevik factory produces Yubileynoye, OREO, Barny Bear, and TUC crackers; Pokrova factory produces Alpen Gold, Vozdushniy, Milka chocolate, and Picnic bar; and a plant in Veliky Novgorod manufactures Dirol chewing gum and Halls drops. The company is the confectionery market leader in the chocolate, chocolate candies, and biscuits categories. It ranks second in the chewing gum and caramels category.
At the end of the military year of 2022, the profit of the Russian branch of Mondelez International amounted to USD 339 million (+303% yoy), with revenues of over USD 1 billion (+38% yoy). The company paid more than USD 61 million in taxes to the aggressor's budget.
"This is a dry financial statistic measured in the lives of Ukrainian children who will never taste Barny Bear again. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Mondelez employees in the Baltic region, covering Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, sent a petition to the company's CEO Dirk Van de Put with a request to stop all business in Russia, to which Mondelez responded formally by announcing the suspension of new investments and advertising in Russia. However, judging by the financial indicators, the Russian market remains promising for the company," NACP added.
NACP also drew attention to the fact that Mondelez publicly advertises its charitable assistance to children affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, at the same time, it is expanding its activities in the aggressor country and continues to pay significant funds to its state budget, which is spent, among other things, on missiles that kill Ukrainian children.
As reported, 26 international companies have already been added to the list of international sponsors of war.
