Nestlé joins queue of confectioners for Cadbury

[FarCenter]

Kraft Foods, the US food giant at the centre of a £9.8 billion takeover struggle for Cadbury, was last night considering raising its offer for the chocolate maker if a rival offer emerges.

The producer of Cheez Whiz is understood to be willing to raise its bid or sweeten it with more cash to secure control of the British company, which makes Dairy Milk, Creme Egg and Trident chewing gum.

Yesterday, Nestlé, the Swiss food group, surfaced as the latest contender in the battle for control of Cadbury, which has also attracted America’s Hershey and Ferrero of Italy.

Nestlé, which has owned Rowntree, another British chocolate company, since 1988, is believed to be considering its options, including a rival bid for Cadbury that would challenge a hostile approach from Kraft that has been scorned by the UK group’s board.

The manufacturer of Kit Kat and Aero would have few problems mounting a bid. The company, which has its headquarters on the shores of Lake Geneva and which employs 283,000 people globally, reported sales of SwFr109.9 billion (£65 billion) last year and profits of SwFr18 billion.

<SNIP>http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/consumer_goods/article6927642.ece

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I hope Nestle can be stopped.

They are greedy and not above using the worst kind of dirty tricks to snare new markets.

I loathe them.

[Sultana]

2. Come on Hershey and Ferrero

For the love of God don't let Nestle get Cadbury...

[Bozita]

3. The Guardian and the NYT report on a big business deal. Only one considers the human element.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7069812&mesg_id=7069812

[aquart]

4. NOOOO! NOT CADBURY!

This is such a cruel world.