Mondelez CEO says will close plants in Ukraine if situation becomes 'too dangerous'

By Jessica DiNapoli

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oreo cookie maker Mondelez International Inc will close its plants in Ukraine if the country's tensions with Russia escalate and become "too dangerous," Chief Executive Officer Dirk Van de Put told Reuters on Wednesday.

The snack maker has more than 4,300 employees in Eastern Europe, a region that spans from Moscow to Turkey to Kazakhstan, according to its website.

"To make sure those people are safe ... that's the number one concern," Van de Put said in a Zoom interview. "We have big business in both countries. If that means we have to close plants because it is too dangerous, we will do so."

In Russia and Ukraine, countries Mondelez considers emerging markets in Europe, the company manufactures local brands such as Jubilee biscuits and Korona chocolate. The Chicago-based company also sells biscuits including Oreo cookies, chocolate such as Milka, and gum and candy in the region.

The U.S. State Department said a Russian invasion of Ukraine remains potentially imminent, with Ukraine declaring a state of emergency on Wednesday.

As a precaution, Mondelez also recently boosted its cybersecurity. Van de Put said Mondelez "immediately" took steps to safeguard its information technology network against attacks.

"The war may also be played out through (computer) viruses," the CEO said. "That could be part of this war."

Mondelez is also concerned about ensuring that its plants are not physically destroyed, Van de Put said.

He told Reuters that he also wants to make sure store shelves in Ukraine remain stocked and that "we keep supplying the market, and that includes stockpiling ingredients."

(This story corrects headline and first paragraph to say Mondelez will close plants only in Ukraine, not Russia, if tensions escalate)

(Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot)