UPDATE: Mondelez restarts Egyptian operations after conflict prompted closure

However, Turkish firm Yıldız Holding has suspended all operations in Egypt until the month-long state of emergency is lifted.

Speaking from Cairo, Mondelez Egypt corporate & government affairs manager Ola Loutfi told ConfectioneryNews on Friday: “It’s a very serious situation. The company has stopped operations due to the actions occurring on the streets.”​

Alll of Mondelez’s four factories stopped producing on Thursday and office workers were told to work from home. However, production has recommenced after the weekend, meaning the factories were only closed for one day.

State of emergency​

The deposed Muslim Brotherhood declared a 'Day of Anger' on Friday in response to hundreds of deaths that occurred when interim government forces dispersed protests in the Egyptian capital and across the country.

The interim government has declared a month-long state of emergency and has imposed a curfew from 7pm to 6am in the capital Cairo and in several provinces.

"We will accommodate the current situation and work around solutions to continue work to ensure productivity,"​ said Loutfi.

"We are committed to Egypt and have expansion plans in the country since we are also an export hub."​

Adjust work shifts if violence persists​

She said that if the violence escalated the company may opt to run a system previously employed during the Egyptian revolution in 2011.

Then Mondelez adjusted works shift from two to three to minimize the time workers spent on the streets. Many staff travelling potentially dangerous routes also worked from home. The company operated this way for around three to weeks.

Mondelez has two factories in 10th of Ramadan area for chocolate (Cadbury) and biscuits (Oreo and Tuc). Its other two factories are near Alexandria - one for gum (Trident, Clorets & Chiclets) and the other for candy (Halls and Éclairs).

The company usually stops producing in Egypt on Fridays and starts again on Saturdays. Office staff do not work weekends.

We have been trying to contact Mars Egypt since Friday, but our calls have gone unanswered.