Letter to Irene Rosenfeld, Chief Operating
Officer and Chairman, Kraft Foods Inc., from the Chair of the
Committee
I am writing in response to Marc Firestone's letter
of 10 January regarding my invitation to you to appear before
my Committee.
I had hoped that you would have seen this as an opportunity
to demonstrate, in person, your company's commitment to Cadbury
and to its heritage. Therefore, you will not be surprised to read
that I am extremely disappointed that you felt unable to accept
my invitation.
As you know, the takeover of Cadbury by Kraft was
badly received in the United Kingdom and there was a high degree
of scepticism over the motive for the takeover, the way in which
it was conducted and Kraft's future strategy of the company. That
scepticism remains and your refusal to attend a Committee of the
House of Commons will do nothing to change that position.
Your letter set out the executive functions of Mr
Firestone and the fact that he is authorised to speak on behalf
of your company. Indeed, he did so when he gave a series of undertakings
to my predecessor Committee. However, he cannot offer the level
of authority that your appearance would provide.
Your appearance would send the strongest possible
signal of Kraft's commitment to Cadbury, and would go some way
to repairing the damage caused by the manner of the takeover.
I therefore ask you to reconsider your refusal to
attend.
24 January 2011
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