Mondelēz to Offer Healthier Snacks Following Consumer Survey

Category: Business

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. commission / kəˈmɪʃ ən / (v) – to request someone to work on or do something
    Example:

    The company commissioned the researcher to conduct a consumer survey.


  2. indulge in (something) / ɪnˈdʌldʒ ɪn / (phrasal) – to drink or eat something that is usually considered unhealthy
    Example:

    She indulged in her favorite dessert this morning.


  3. vow / vaʊ / (v) – to be serious in one’s promise
    Example:

    The president vowed to end poverty in his country.


  4. put (something) on the market / pʊt ɒn ðə ˈmɑr kɪt / (idiom) – to sell something to the public
    Example:

    The company will put a new line of bags on the market next month.


  5. comparatively / kəmˈpær ə tɪv li / (adv) – in relation to or in comparison with someone or something
    Example:

    Our products are comparatively cheaper than those of the competitors.


Article

Read the text below.

Multinational food and beverage company Mondelēz has announced plans to offer healthier versions of its well-known snacks.


The move is a response to a recently conducted consumer survey commissioned by Mondelēz. This survey involved over 6,000 people from 12 countries. Based on the results, 80% of the respondents wanted healthy snacks. However, this percentage still chose to indulge in their favorite snacks, which are usually unhealthy. In addition, the majority of the respondents preferred frequent small meals to fewer big meals.


A Mondelēz executive said the company views these results as an opportunity to expand its line of nutritious snacks and provide a wide range of products that cater to individual consumer preferences. Therefore, Mondelēz has vowed to produce snacks that have less sugar content and are packed in smaller portions.


Although the company has already launched a Cadbury chocolate milk bar with 30% less sugar, it also promised that by 2025, 20% of its snacks will be in portion-controlled packs containing a maximum of only 200 calories. Currently, only about 15% of Mondelēz products are in portion-controlled packs.


In addition, Mondelēz put other products for health-conscious consumers on the market. These products include thinner Oreo cookies and Ritz crackers. The cookies have less sugar compared to the original version, while the crackers are marketed as a healthier alternative to potato chips.


Recently, the competition among food brands to produce healthier snacks has become tighter because of pressure from governments and various health advocates. Despite this, a lot of products still contain high amounts of sugar, which are comparatively higher than a person’s recommended daily sugar intake.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Given the current consumer trend, do you think Mondelēz should still continue offering the original versions of its snacks and chocolate products? Why or why not?
• Do you think all food companies should follow the initiatives of Mondelēz? Why or why not?

Discussion B

• What do you think is the significance of conducting consumer surveys? Discuss.
• Aside from making healthier versions of snacks, what else can companies do to cater to their health-conscious consumers (e.g. product labeling)? Discuss.