Mondelez says road trip an investment in NZ businesses

CADBURY owner Mondelez has hit back at E tu union, saying it is ‘‘disappointed’’ with the union’s criticisms of the confectionery giant’s promotional road trip following job losses in Dunedin.

Mondelez has launched an initiative in which staff will visit cities across New Zealand offering free ‘‘personalised’’ chocolate.

The promotion has drawn the ire of E tu industry coordinator Phil Knight, who said yesterday Mondelez’s actions left a ‘‘bitter taste’’.

A total of 350 people lost their jobs last year after the Cadbury factory in Dunedin closed.

‘‘Kiwis connected with Cadbury and enjoyed the chocolate for 150 years. But that ended for many people when Mondelez closed a profitable business and moved production offshore.’’

Mondelez New Zealand head James Kane said he was ‘‘disappointed’’ by E tu’s response to the campaign.

The union worked constructively with Mondelez last year to support the factory’s workers, he said.

‘‘This marketing campaign is an investment by Mondelez in a number of local New Zealand businesses who will deliver the campaign,’’ Mr Kane said.

‘‘We’ve run productsampling campaigns for decades, and intend to keep promoting our products to support our thousands of local retail partners up and down the country.’’

Mr Knight said he expected people would be ‘‘voting with their wallets’’ and buying confectionery from companies which supported the local economy.

However, Mr Kane said Mondelez was still one of New Zealand’s biggest employers in the industry, directly employing about 100 people. Another 100 were employed by thirdparty suppliers.

The road trip is expected to reach Dunedin on June 29.