Cadbury’s US parent company, Mondelez International, has faced further criticism over its Russian business operations after it failed to respond to a letter from more than 70 British lawmakers urging it to cease operations in Russia.
MPs said the company’s silence showed a lack of respect for democratically elected officials and called on Mondelez to justify its presence in Russia or agree to quickly exit the country.
In 2023, Mondelez earned $1.4 billion in Russia and paid over $62 million in profit taxes to the Russian government, making it one of the top foreign corporate taxpayers in the country, according to B4Ukraine.
In the letter dated April 11, the parliamentarians stated that by continuing to operate and pay taxes in Russia, Mondelez is “in essence funding Russia’s war machine that continues to terrorise Ukrainian civilians.” It was sent to CEO Dirk Van de Put and Mondelez UK Managing Director Louise Stigant.
“Failing to respond to more than 70 lawmakers is a serious sign of disrespect to the UK Parliament and disloyalty to the British public,” said Alex Sobel, Chair of the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Ukraine. “It once again highlights how irresponsible, non-transparent, and unconstructive the company’s position is. Mondelez must exit Russia now or face the consequences of funding the Kremlin’s war machine.”
Sir John Whittingdale MP, Vice Chair of the APPG on Ukraine, said: “It seems the company has no time to respond to UK lawmakers — too busy counting its record profits in Russia. Ukrainians, meanwhile, are left to count and grieve the lives lost.”
The US snack giant has been ignoring a barrage of criticism from the public, employees, and investors over its decision to continue doing business in Russia.