Mondelez International is facing a growing corporate boycott in Norway and Sweden over its decision to maintain its business in Russia -- despite that country’s continued war against Ukraine and other processors’ decisions to leave.
The Reuters news service reported Airlines SAS and Norwegian Air, railway group SJ, hotel chain Strawberry, retailer Elkjop, shipping group Fjord Line and the Norwegian Football Assn. were among those announcing in recent days that they would stop selling Mondelez products.
In response, the global snack maker over the past weekend asked to meet with the Norwegian government to protect its local business, according to Reuters. Mondelez has a significant presence in Norway and Sweden due to its ownership of local chocolate manufacturers Freia and Marabou.
Last year and early into this year, we reported a number of other food & beverage processors terminating their businesses in Russia. Those stories included Kraft Heinz, Kellogg, Danone, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola.
Reuters said the Nordic companies made their decision stop selling Mondelez products based on a recent announcement by Ukraine's National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption to blacklist the snack maker and other groups.
Coop Norge, Norway's second biggest food retailer, said on June 10 it would seek advice from the Norwegian government before making any decisions, according to the news service.
Mondelez in a statement to Reuters said it would seek to meet with relevant government ministries to explain its position, adding that it was not selling any Russian-made products in Norway.
Mondelez did not respond to our request for comment. But the second story currently on their home page is titled “Our Support to Ukraine.”
