Cadbury owner Mondelēz says food manufacturing must underpin Britain’s growth plans after contributing £2.3 billion to the UK economy.
Mondelēz International has urged Government to place food and drink manufacturing at the centre of Britain’s Industrial Strategy after contributing £2.3 billion to the UK economy in 2025.
The Cadbury and OREO owner said rising costs, supply chain disruption and regulatory instability are squeezing manufacturers and pushing up costs for businesses and consumers, despite the wider food and drink sector contributing £42 billion to the economy.
We’ve been part of the UK’s growth story for more than 200 years. With regulatory stability and a place at the heart of the Industrial Strategy, we can drive further growth and help ease cost-of-living pressures for families across the UK.”
Christian Woolfenden, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, UK & Ireland
In its Joy-makers and Growth-creators report, Mondelēz said it supports nearly 12,000 UK jobs, including 3,800 direct employees across eight UK sites. The company has also invested £135 million in manufacturing since 2022 and established its largest global R&D hub in the UK.
As part of that investment, more than 700 scientists and engineers now work across Mondelēz’s UK R&D operations, driving innovation in food science, nutrition and wellbeing. The business has invested a further £24 million in R&D facilities.
Beyond its own operations, Mondelēz spent £1.3 billion with more than 1,000 UK suppliers in 2025, from dairy farmers to logistics firms, helping strengthen regional economies and supply chains across the country.
Calls for Industrial Strategy support
The company warned that food and drink manufacturing still remains outside the Government’s Industrial Strategy despite directly employing 500,000 people and supporting 4.2 million jobs through its wider supply chain.
In the West Midlands alone, Mondelēz contributes almost £600 million in gross value added (GVA) and employs more than 2,000 people.
Mondelēz called on Government to recognise food and drink manufacturing as a strategic growth sector, deliver a stable regulatory framework to support long-term investment, align skills reforms with advanced manufacturing needs, and strengthen collaboration between industry, academia and policymakers.
The company said frequent policy changes waste investment in product development and compliance, restrict consumer choice and hold back growth across the sector.
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