DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Mondelez is doubling down on chocolate, announcing it will bring to the United States its Milka Oreo chocolate bars that pair Oreo cookies with Milka, a chocolate bar popular in Europe.
The Milka Oreo chocolate bars already are available in more than 20 countries.
The move targets the roughly $14 billion U.S. chocolate market, which Mondelez believes has room for growth, especially compared with chocolate consumption in other countries. “Per capita consumption is only about half that of many developed European chocolate markets," said Tim Cofer, chief growth officer.
Mondelez also has announced it is expanding its Green & Black's products, following an overall trend of an increase in consumer demand for products with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It plans to add 70% dark chocolate in tablets, share packs and gift packs.
The product announcements mean more choices for retailers as they grapple with the growing number of new and expanded product lines in snacks and candies. Mondelez discussed the new items during a presentation at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference in Boston. The announcement follows closely on the heels of Mondelez abandoning its pursuit of The Hershey Co. on Aug. 29.
A merger of Mondelez with Hershey, which makes Hershey's Kisses and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, would have expanded the former's limited U.S. footprint and created the world's largest confectioner. Mondelez, the maker of Cadbury chocolates as well as Oreos, is the second-largest confectionary company in the world.
Since the failure of the Hershey’s merger, industry analysts continue to speculate that Mondelez may itself be an acquisition target with names such as Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo being floated. Or Mondelez may hope to gobble another confectioner, possibly Ferrero or Perfetti Van Melle.
Mondelez International Inc. is based in Deerfield, Ill. The snacks and confection company had 2015 net revenues of approximately $30 billion.
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