Cadbury Schweppes is to separate its confectionery and American beverages businesses. The purpose is to maximise shareholder value.

Sir John Sunderland, chairman, said,“This decision is of great significance for the board and the company.“It has been facilitated by acquisitions and disposals over the past decade designed to create a strong and potentially independent Americas Beverages business.
“We have built the world’s largest confectionery business. We believe now is the moment to separate and give both management teams the focussed opportunity to extract the full potential inherent in these excellent businesses.
Todd Stitzer, chief executive officer said,“In confectionery the acquisitions of Hollywood, Dandy, Kent and Adams transformed our confectionery business, giving us the global confectionery industry.
“We have substantially strengthened the position of both our confectionery and beverages businesses through a series of acquisitions and disposals, and through organic investment. We have acquired faster growing, higher return
businesses, and disposed of those which were slower growing or less competitively advantaged.