Mondelez Kinh Do’s solite brand pioneers in using cage-free eggs for new product

By Kieu Mai - Dec 12, 2022 | 10:45 AM GMT+7

TheLEADERWith this bold step toward sustainable sourcing, Mondelez Kinh Do has become the first company in the food industry to use cage-free eggs.

Solite, a proud brand of Mondelez Kinh Do Vietnam, recently launched its new product Solite Nature Fresh which uses 100 per cent cage-free eggs. This is the premium product in Solite’s portfolio and the first product that contains 100 per cent using cage-free eggs.

For this breakthrough product Solite Nature Fresh, Mondelez Kinh Do uses cage-free eggs supplied by Vinh Thanh Dat (V. Food), one of the first egg producers and processing companies that earned the Certified Humane label in Vietnam.

Vinh Thanh Dat’s cage-free egg project is freeing thousands of hens from cages and with the assistance of Humane Society International (HSI), helping the Vietnam livestock industry make an enhanced move to cage-free.

In 2019, Vietnam had more than 77 million hens who laid 8.2 billion eggs produced by thousands of egg producers in the country with varying production sizes including small, medium and big enterprises.

The cage-free egg is an increasingly preferable choice for its multiple benefits. Most importantly, cage-free production improves animal welfare conditions by allowing laying hens to move around freely in their environment and engage in natural behaviours, and this approach is supported by human organizations as well as consumers.

Sameer Yadav, marketing director of Mondelez Kinh Do Vietnam, stated that: “As a leading brand in snacking industry with continuous innovation and responsible business development, Solite is proud to be the first cupcake brand that is not only nutritious to our consumers but also tender to animals.”

“Customers are at the heart of everything we do at Mondelez Kinh Do. With the mission to provide the right snacks, for the right moment, made the right way, Mondelez Kinh Do constantly strives to make our products more sustainable, with a positive impact on people and the planet by using the ingredient sources that consumers trust,” he added.

As part of its sustainable development plan, Mondelez Kinh Do has developed a long-term strategy to support the Vietnamese livestock industry by joining hands with egg suppliers who plan to build an ecological system and high-welfare breeding environment, contributing to a sustainable future for the next generations.

Ha Thuy Hanh, Deputy Director of the National Agricultural Extension Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: “We are delighted that more and more enterprises and manufacturers are starting to tackle the problem of animal welfare by promoting humane husbandry in Vietnam. We appreciate Mondelez Kinh Do for pioneering in using cage-free eggs as an ingredient in its production to bring quality products closer to Vietnamese consumers, in line with the growing trend around the globe.”

According to Mondelēz International’s Third Annual State of Snacking Report, consumers are growing more intentional about their purchase decisions as they become more in touch with their values.

They are making more of an effort to learn more about the brands or companies they buy from and becoming more discerning over the sustainable nature of their chosen snacks. 85 per cent of consumers worldwide want to buy snacks from companies offsetting their environmental footprint.

Another research conducted by ESI Insights for World Animal Protection also shows that 67 per cent of shoppers consider animal welfare in their food purchasing.

Millennials (age of 18-35) factor animal welfare into their buying in even greater numbers, as 83 per cent of millennials take animal welfare into account when buying food.

That is the driving force for Mondelez Kinh Do to implement solutions that demonstrate its environmental and social responsibility in the supply chain.

This year, Mondelez Kinh Do and the social enterprise Green Connect have signed MOU on partnership of “Upcycle food waste into free-range chickens and eggs” project, aiming to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich organic fertilizer for plants and produce feed that serves as an abundant source of protein for livestock, poultry and aquatic products.

The project is carried out in 2022 – 2023 with total budget of $30,000 funded by Mondelez Kinh Do Vietnam.

As a member of the Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO Vietnam), and as part of Mondelez International, Mondelez Kinh Do set goal of designing 100 per cent recyclable and reusable packaging across its product portfolio by 2025.

95 per cent of Mondelez Kinh Do’s total packaging now, including both plastic and non-plastic, is recyclable and reusable. 95 per cent packages of Kinh Do's mooncake products are made from kraft paper and 100% mooncake trays made from recycled PET plastic.

It also start replacing thermal fuels (e.g., natural gas, diesel, gasoline) with “green” alternatives; implement water and food waste reduction across the supply chain.