The oil fund has invested just over NOK 9.4 billion in Freia’s parent company Mondelez and now owns 1.05 percent of the company, writes NTB. Last year, investments increased by around NOK 2 billion, the Oil Fund’s own figures show. US-registered Mondelez has been blacklisted by Ukraine because the company has maintained its operations in Russia. – We have clear expectations of how companies should respect human rights, and the diligence they must show in this regard. In war and conflict situations, we expect increased vigilance from the companies – something we follow up with them in our owner dialogue. We see that many companies are dealing with this complex situation and have abandoned or scaled back their operations in Russia, writes the oil fund in an e-mail to news. In recent days, several Norwegian companies have broken with Freia. Asks the minister to support the boycott The powerful grocery chains, on the other hand, are waiting. Coop said yesterday that they want a clarification from the Minister of Industry, Jan Christian Vestre, about how Norwegian companies and consumers should behave in the matter. The government opens a dialogue meeting, but does not wish to comment on the matter. – I want to challenge the Minister of Business and Industry to state clearly that he supports the boycott, and that he praises the companies and organizations that are now leading the way, says Storting representative Alfred Bjørlo (V) to news. – This is a boycott that comes from below and shows that Business Norway and Organization Norway care. They will not contribute to Mondelez sponsoring the Russian war fund. I believe and hope the boycott will spread, says Bjørlo. He believes that the argument that Freia only uses Norwegian raw materials and that the entire production is in Oslo is not good enough. – As for Freia, Freia is part of the Mondelez group. The money Norwegian chocolate buyers spend on Freia products goes into exactly the same Mondelez coffers as the money the group earns from remaining in Putin’s war regime. – The market works. The Conservative Party also asks the authorities to go out and help both consumers and businesses. – The Conservative Party expects the government to come to the fore and clarify how Norwegian businesses should deal with the issue of boycotts. The authorities must provide guidelines and guide Norwegian businesses in handling them further. Mondelez is probably just one of several examples of companies that will be in the same situation, so it is important to get a quick clarification, says Storting politician Linda Hofstad Helleland. Sivert Bjørnstad of the Fremskrittspartiet believes the case shows that the market works. – We fully understand that organizations and companies do not offer Freia products as the situation is now. Hopefully Freia’s owners now understand the responsibility, says Bjørnstad to news.
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The oil fund has invested 9.4 billion in Mondelez – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
