Kraft Foods Group Marks First Day As Independently Traded Company

Tony Vernon, CEO of Kraft Foods Group, joined employees in the company's Northfield, Ill. headquarters to ring the Opening Bell of the NASDAQ Stock Market and kick off the new food and beverage company's first day of trading as an independent company.  The spin-off of Kraft Foods Group was completed by Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ) on Oct. 1, 2012. "Today is the beginning of a great new company, a totally new Kraft, one with the spirit of a startup and the soul of a powerhouse," said Vernon.  "We are proud of our rich history and deeply passionate about Kraft's future. We see this as an opportunity to build something extraordinary, to create a renaissance in the North American food & beverage industry." Today's Kraft is a $19 billion food & beverage company with a portfolio of beloved, iconic brands and an entrepreneurial spirit.  Kraft's success story has been an enduring one thanks to the entrepreneurs and innovators who have made the company what it is today.  In honor of these present and future makers, Vernon was joined on the Opening Bell stage by American and Canadian employees representing the teams who will write the next chapter of Kraft's story, including those from manufacturing, transportation, sales, finance, R&D and marketing. "Our strength is in our people," said Vernon.  "We are 25,000 strong and together we will make the new Kraft." Kraft has a strong foundation on which to build. The company has an array of brands that is unprecedented and its products occupy the shelves of virtually every refrigerator and pantry across this continent. The company continues to make innovation the key driver of customer and consumer delight. Ten of the company's brands achieved sales of $500 million or more in 2011, while an additional 17 brands posted sales of $100 million or more last year. Approximately 80 percent of Kraft Foods Group's revenue comes from categories in which the company holds the No. 1 or No. 2 market position.