Mondelez International
American multinational confectionery, food, and beverage company, one of the world's largest snack companies with iconic brands including Oreo, Cadbury, Ritz, and Toblerone.
Company Type
public
Founded
2012
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Stock
NASDAQ: MDLZ
About Mondelez International
Mondelez operates as a focused snacking company with a portfolio concentrated in three primary categories: Biscuits (including cookies and crackers), Chocolate, and Gum and Candy. The company's strategy centers on its "local first" approach, combining global brand scale with local market expertise to drive growth across both developed and emerging markets.
The Biscuits segment is Mondelez's largest category, anchored by Oreo (the world's best-selling cookie), Ritz crackers, Chips Ahoy!, LU, Belvita, and Nabisco. The chocolate segment features Cadbury, Milka, Toblerone, Cote d'Or, and other premium chocolate brands. The Gum and Candy segment includes Trident, Dentyne, Halls, and other confectionery brands.
Mondelez's emerging markets business represents a significant growth opportunity, with the company generating substantial revenue from markets in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. The company's ability to adapt global brands to local tastes while maintaining consistent quality has been a key competitive advantage in these markets.
The company faces a significant challenge from elevated cocoa prices, which reached record highs in 2024 and 2025 due to poor harvests in West Africa. Mondelez has responded through a combination of pricing actions, cost management, and product innovation to protect margins while maintaining consumer value.
History of Mondelez International
Mondelez International traces its heritage to some of the world's oldest and most storied food companies. The Cadbury chocolate business dates to 1824 when John Cadbury opened a shop in Birmingham, England. Nabisco, which produces Oreo and Ritz, was founded in 1898 as the National Biscuit Company. Kraft Foods, the direct predecessor to Mondelez, was founded by James L. Kraft in Chicago in 1903.
The modern Mondelez story begins with Kraft Foods' 2010 acquisition of Cadbury for approximately $19.5 billion, one of the largest food industry acquisitions in history. This deal brought iconic British chocolate brands including Cadbury Dairy Milk, Roses, and Crunchie into the Kraft portfolio alongside existing brands like Oreo, Ritz, and Toblerone.
In August 2011, Kraft Foods announced it would split into two publicly traded companies. On October 1, 2012, Mondelez International was created as the global snacking business, retaining brands sold outside North America's grocery aisles, while Kraft Foods Group was spun off to focus on North American grocery products. The Mondelez name was coined from the Latin words "monde" (world) and "delez" (delicious).
Under CEO Dirk Van de Put, who took the helm in 2017, Mondelez has pursued a strategy focused on its core snacking categories of chocolate, biscuits, and gum and candy, while divesting non-core assets. The company has made strategic acquisitions to strengthen its portfolio, including Clif Bar (2022), Tate's Bake Shop (2018), and various regional snacking brands.
In FY2025, Mondelez reported net revenues of approximately $38.5 billion, delivering solid top-line results despite a challenging environment of elevated cocoa prices, geopolitical uncertainty, and consumer pressure from inflation. The company generated strong cash flow and returned significant capital to shareholders throughout the year.
Brands Owned by Mondelez International
Mondelez International owns 4 brands in our database.
Cadbury
Owned by Mondelez International
British multinational confectionery brand known for chocolate bars, Dairy Milk, Creme Eggs, and other confectionery products.
chocolateconfectionerysnacks
Oreo
Owned by Mondelez International
American sandwich cookie brand consisting of two chocolate wafers with sweet cream filling, owned by Mondelez International and the world's best-selling cookie with annual retail sales exceeding $4 billion.
cookiesandwich-cookiesnack
Ritz
Owned by Mondelez International
American brand of snack crackers known for their round, buttery flavor, produced by Mondelez International.
crackerssnacksbiscuits
Trident
Owned by Mondelez International
American brand of sugar-free chewing gum known for its variety of flavors, produced by Mondelez International.
chewing-gumsugar-freeconfectionery
Shop Mondelez International Brands
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Stock Information
Mondelez International Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Portfolio of iconic global snack brands with strong consumer recognition and loyalty
- +Diversified geographic presence across 150+ countries reducing dependence on any single market
- +Leadership positions in high-growth snacking categories including biscuits and chocolate
- +Strong emerging markets presence providing growth opportunities beyond saturated developed markets
- +Focused snacking strategy enabling concentrated investment and operational efficiency
- +Consistent cash generation supporting dividends, share repurchases, and strategic acquisitions
- +Clif Bar acquisition expanding presence in better-for-you snacking segment
Considerations
- -Significant exposure to cocoa price volatility affecting chocolate segment margins
- -Intense competition from Mars, Nestle, Ferrero, and private label alternatives
- -Consumer pressure from inflation affecting discretionary snack spending
- -Currency fluctuations impacting international revenue and profitability reporting
- -Regulatory scrutiny regarding sugar content, packaging sustainability, and health claims
- -Integration complexity from multiple acquisitions across different geographies and categories
Frequently Asked Questions About Mondelez International
Is Mondelez International publicly traded?
Yes, Mondelez International is publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol MDLZ. The company has been publicly traded since its spin-off from Kraft Foods in October 2012.
What is Mondelez's relationship to Kraft Foods?
Mondelez International was created in October 2012 when Kraft Foods Inc. split into two separate companies. Mondelez retained the global snacking business (Oreo, Cadbury, Ritz, etc.), while Kraft Foods Group retained the North American grocery business. The two companies are now completely independent.
What are Mondelez's most famous brands?
Mondelez's most recognized brands include Oreo (world's best-selling cookie), Cadbury chocolate, Ritz crackers, Toblerone, Milka, Chips Ahoy!, Trident gum, and Halls. The company also owns Clif Bar following its 2022 acquisition.
What was Mondelez's revenue in 2025?
Mondelez reported FY2025 net revenues of approximately $38.5 billion, delivering solid top-line results despite challenges including elevated cocoa prices and geopolitical uncertainty. The company generated strong cash flow and returned significant capital to shareholders.
Who is Mondelez's CEO?
Dirk Van de Put has served as CEO of Mondelez International since November 2017. Under his leadership, the company has pursued a focused snacking strategy, made strategic acquisitions including Clif Bar and Tate's Bake Shop, and strengthened its position in emerging markets.
Where is Mondelez headquartered?
Mondelez International is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The company operates more than 80 manufacturing facilities worldwide across North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.
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