Trending
April 30, 2024
At times what we consume defines us and our body. Today, there are numerous snacking options that we can choose from. All around the world, the lines between meals and snacks are blurring. Snacking –
those moments when you reach for a delicious bite in between meals – is on the rise. But there is also a universal cultural tension, people don’t want to have to choose between snacking and eating right. With the fast-moving life, people have very little free time as they have longer working hours with hours of commutes. Today, consumers are looking for snacks that not only support a healthy lifestyle but also provide nourishment and nutrition for their active, busy lives. Dirk Van de Put(Chairman and CEO of Mondelēz International) feels that when snacking, there is a desire for convenient and delicious options that people can feel good about eating made with less energy, water, and waste–all with ingredients they know and trust. This is where Mondelēz International empowers consumers with the right snacking options. The company offers a unique portfolio of flavorful brands to fulfill the global need for snacking.
Founded in 2012, Mondelēz International is a young company built on the foundation of several predecessor companies, most of which date back over 100 years. Mondelēz International offers snacks to consumers in over 150 countries around the world. It is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as Oreo, belVita, and LU biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; Sour Patch Kids candy and Trident gum. Currently, Mondelēz International is one of the largest snack companies in the world with global net revenues of $25.9 billion and net earnings of $3.4 billion in 2018. It makes and sells primarily snacks, including biscuits (cookies, crackers, and salted snacks), chocolate, gum & candy as well as various cheese & grocery and powdered beverage products. The company has operations in more than 80 countries and employs around 80,000 in its factories, offices, research & development facilities, and distribution activities around the world.
“At Mondelēz International, our purpose is to empower people to snack right. We will lead the future of snacking around the world by offering the right snack, for the right moment, made the right way. That means delivering a broader range of delicious, high-quality snacks that nourish life’s moments, made with sustainable ingredients and packaging that consumers can feel good about,” says Dirk Van de Put.
Being a leader in the industry, Dirk Van de Put and his team always inspire each other to go the extra mile to lead the future of snacking globally. The passionate team at Mondelēz International understands the importance of the snacking moment. The team of passionate makers and bakers focuses on offering the right snack, for the right moment, made the right way. It broad range of delicious snacks is what you need when you need it. After consuming, the consumers are satisfied with every bite knowing that they are made with high-quality ingredients, in a way that enables people and the planet to thrive. Mondelēz International knows how to empower people to snack right.
Mondelēz International constantly focuses on improving everything right from building a world-class supply chain to achieving marketing and sales excellence. A key component to the operational performance is its digital transformation. This approach, made possible by its vast capabilities and diverse culture, helps identify and enable additional growth opportunities. The company empowers the local teams to innovate and deliver consumers’ snacking needs while continuing to leverage opportunity on a larger scale to most efficiently support its growth strategy. Mondelēz International is committed to investing in a diverse and talented workforce that helps the business move forward with greater speed and agility.
Furthermore, Dirk Van de Put believes that its consumers are the reason it wants to be the best snacking company in the world and why it puts them at the heart of everything it does. With its consumers in mind, Mondelēz International focuses on accelerating growth by investing in both its global and local heritage brands. Its emphasis is on implementing innovative ideas and tactics at all levels, driving growth in new channels, and building new and existing partnerships that best serve its consumers.
Dirk holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Ghent, Belgium, and a postgraduate degree in business from the University of Antwerp, Belgium. He is fluent in Dutch, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. In the first 15 years of his career, Dirk held many sales and marketing roles in Europe and Latin America for Mars Inc., as well as The Coca Cola Company, where he served as President, Coca Cola Caribbean. Under Dirk’s leadership, McCain saw strong growth in net sales, the majority of which was generated organically. McCain Foods Limited is a privately-held Canadian company that is the largest marketer and manufacturer of frozen french fries, potato specialties, and appetizers. Prior to joining McCain, he was President of the Global OTC Division of Novartis Inc., a Swiss pharmaceutical company, and spent more than a decade with Groupe Danone, a maker of dairy, water, baby food, and clinical nutrition products, where he served as President of the Americas Division and joint President of the Fresh Dairy Division. Dirk also holds a position as a Member of the Board of Directors at The Consumer Goods Forum, and has previously been a non-executive director of Mattel, Inc. In 2007, Dirk was appointed as the CEO at Mondelēz International. Since then, he has developed and mobilized a new corporate Purpose to empower people to snack right, as well as a long-term growth strategy and sustainability initiatives while delivering on key financial and strategic commitments.
Mondelēz International aims on continuing its successful run in the coming years. As it is said there are numerous uncertainties especially with the COVID-19 situation. As a leader in the industry, Dirk and his team wants to keep things simple and wants to focus on everything it does in the coming years. It also wants to keep the values of the company intact as it helps in shaping how it operates and brings the purpose of empowering people to snack right to life. It deeply knows what its consumers want and understands their desires for personal well-being and thoughtful care for the planet. This helps in shaping how it shares delightful and sustaining snacks with the consumers. Dirk says, “In everything we do, we’re thinking of one thing – growth. We operate with speed and efficiency instead of focusing on perfection. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the driving force behind our growth.”
Mondelēz International believes in treating everyone with care and integrity. The diverse, inclusive, and connected community makes the company stronger and secures its steps forward on the right path in the coming years. Dirk concludes, “We follow through on our commitments, doing what is right for our consumers, right for our partners, right for our brands, and right for the environment.”
