US-based confectionery giant, Mondelez, is set to launch ‘healthier’ chocolate bars, which will cater to the growing demand for plant-based products. Dirk van de Put, Mondelez’s chief executive, has stated that the company aims to target a new market with this offering. Despite acknowledging that the uptake may be slow due to the unfamiliar taste, the company intends to persistently offer healthier alternatives. Speaking at the Cadbury’s Bournville factory in the Midlands, van de Put criticized UK anti-obesity laws, including sugar tax on soft drinks and a ban on unhealthy snacks at checkouts.
Aside from their healthier product range, Brexit is causing additional complexities for the company’s British operations. Van de Put lamented that Brexit has made the UK a more challenging place to do business. A significant part of the company’s UK production stays within the UK, and they export to Europe; Brexit has necessitated a shift in production, resulting in substantial additional costs.
Cadbury, which originates from a Quaker family, was established in 1824 by John Cadbury. The company was acquired by Mondelez when Kraft Foods launched a hostile takeover in 2009. Bournville has been the flagship production centre for Cadbury since 1870 and is a heritage site and popular tourist destination. In the bid to target new markets, Mondelez aims to keep its new product range on the market persistently, much like the way diet drinks gained popularity. The company is also committed to offering healthy alternatives to cater to a more health-conscious consumer base.
