Building Connections through Passion, Work, and Collaboration

Friday, July 25, 2025

Being part of our Taste The Future early career programmes is not just about coming to work; it’s about becoming part of a community where you can grow, make a real impact, and have fun while doing it.

Meet Sam Smith, our Sales and Marketing Graduate who had the opportunity to play for the Cadbury Cup with Chelsea Football Club and raise money for our partner, GroceryAid. Let’s dive into his experience and discover how being part of a purpose-driven organization can lead to unforgettable moments and a few unexpected goals along the way!

Taking part in the Cadbury Cup was more than just a game, it was a chance to make a difference. Tell us, as an early career colleague, what taking part in the Cadbury Cup meant to you?

Playing in the Cadbury Cup was an amazing experience. It’s not only a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at a premier league football stadium, spending a day on a pitch where earlier that week Chelsea had been playing. It is also a great chance to connect with team members and colleagues across the business in a different way. For me it helped me feel more connected to a lot of my team members and was also a chance to introduce and chat to lots of colleagues I would not have otherwise got to meet. With the tournament being open to all employees, it was great to meet colleagues from all over the UK, with the winners of the tournament coming from Chirk in Wales! The experience was one I will take with me through my career at Mondelēz.

What did you learn about our culture of purpose, fun and community through the event?

I would say it reinforced what I already knew from working at Mondelēz for the past few years. The event demonstrated how Mondelēz shows up for employees in all three pillars by combining the amazing benefits we receive through our partnerships team and utilizing these to drive a benefit for a really important cause.

This also reinforced in my mind the connections behind how we show up across the market with our initiatives and programs to drive positive change in all that we do. With our work with ARUK and the breadth of sustainability projects underway, the event provided me with a tangible insight into how we connect our company strengths to doing what’s right. The fun and community pillars were connected here, and it was great to see how such a range of people showed up to take part and support, not just those interested in football. It was fun seeing how the tournament created a good-natured competitive spirit among the teams and brought people who don’t typically work together.

How did it feel to contribute to raising donations for our partner, GroceryAid, while enjoying the energy of the pitch?

It is an incredible amount of money raised for such a great cause, and it’s even more impressive to see how we smashed last year’s number too! I think this showed in how everyone approached the tournament and the day in general with a lot of generosity and (lots of players wearing other colleagues’ boots and shin pads!), and a supportive atmosphere. Although it was competitive, there was a great team spirit among the players.

The impact of how we’d combined to raise such a great amount of money was clear to see on people’s faces as it was announced and led to a togetherness that was present throughout the event. Seeing people’s messages on the JustGiving page and how the appreciation of the donations was addressed in the stadium at the beginning and end of the day brought to life the impact everyone’s generosity has on people who are struggling.

What other events have you joined to help the community, and what would you say to someone considering joining our Taste The Future Early Career programmes?

I have played in Cadbury Cups and I am also the internal communications lead for our partnership with Alzheimer’s Research UK, where I regularly communicate with their team, and spread the word internally about all the amazing work they do, and how our colleagues can get involved in the fight to find a cure.

Recently we also ran a Lunch and Learn session where colleagues were given a talk about Dementia, the risk factors, and how they can help lessen the chance of themselves developing the disease. It was great to see so many people turn up, eager to learn, and it was lovely to see the reaction as people shared personal stories and sparked conversations about how we can help each other as well.

I would recommend exploring our early career programs for anyone, regardless of their preferred role. Although it can be daunting to consider how you’d fit in at such a large company, my experience here reflects what I’ve said about the event! Everyone I’ve worked with has been so friendly and helpful, willing to go out of their way to support me in my development and growth. There’s a great early careers community who are always happy to help and has been in your shoes, so they have probably asked any “stupid” questions you want to ask!