The National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption has added American companies PepsiCo and Mars to the list of “international war sponsors”.
“Despite declarations of limiting their activities, cessation of advertising activities and production of their products, these companies continue to operate in Russia, paying taxes and supporting the Russian economy. PepsiCo, which after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, announced the end of advertising activities and production of beverages in the Russian Federation, in August 2022 it resumed the production of 7Up and Mirinda beverages,” the Ukrainian Pravda portal quotes the agency’s statement.
“Later, in March 2023, production of Pepsi drinks under the brands Evervess and Liubimyi resumed. In part, PepsiCo launched a new brand of lemonade called Russkij Podarok (Russian gift) to replace the recalled products. PepsiCo continues to manufacture and distribute other products, such as chips, snacks and dairy products.
According to a statement from the Ukrainian National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, Lay’s chips from PepsiCo were found in the food rations of Russian soldiers.
Increased profits
“Despite PepsiCo’s promise to reduce operations and suspend all advertising in Russia, its recruitment page lists more than 580 vacancies in that country. In this way, PepsiCo continues to actively support the Russian economy and therefore sponsor the aggression against Ukraine; the company’s management made no attempts to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
PepsiCo is the largest beverage and food company in the United States by net profit, the second largest in the world, and the fourth largest in Russia.
Mars is still recruiting in Russia
In turn, Mars promised to reduce operations in the Russian Federation, but in 2022 the factories were still operating, achieving revenues higher than in 2021. Mars revenues for 2022 increased to USD 2.45 billion (RUB 176.5 billion), net profit increased by 59 percent – up to USD 377 million (RUB 27.2 billion), and taxes worth over USD 93 million (or RUB 6.76 billion) were received in the budget of the Russian Federation.
The Russian branch of Mars is actively recruiting (over 100 vacancies). “In this way, Mars continues to actively support the Russian economy and therefore sponsors aggression against Ukraine. There was no attempt by the company’s management to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine,” explains the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption.
2023-09-01 18:42:00
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