Coca-Cola Amatil has announced they are on track to meet profit guidance and may have found the right energy drink to compete with V and Red Bull, with sales of Mother surpassing expectations. “Notwithstanding the volatile market conditions, CCA has experienced solid trading in the third quarter,” a statement from the company advised. “The Australian beverages business has cycled very strong volume growth in Q3 2007 and delivered performance in line with expectations. The Australian... ...Read more »

Cadbury has today announced a $135 million proposal to improve the productivity and efficiency of their chocolate manufacturing sites in Australia and New Zealand. The changes will result in about 160 job losses over two years at their Claremont factory in Tasmania, with a further 145 expected to be lost in Dunedin, New Zealand and 25 in Ringwood, Victoria. Staff were informed at a meeting this afternoon after production was reportedly stopped at 4 this morning. The decision follows Cadbury’s... ...Read more »

Cadbury has informed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) that they are proposing to sell their beverage business in Australia. Rumours had been circulating for months that a sale was on the cards following the demerger of Cadbury-Schweppes in the US which left Australia as the only country where Cadbury’s confectionery and beverage units were combined. Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) CEO Terry Davis has also fuelled rumours of a Schweppes sale by indicating CCA would be interested... ...Read more »

Speculation continues to mount that Japanese-based Kirin Holdings will make a play for the drinks unit of Cadbury Schweppes in Australia. The Japanese beverage giant already has significant operations in Australia following last year’s $2b purchase of dairy company National Foods. They also have a 46% stake in Lion Nathan Australia and a purchase of Schweppes would mean they would be a major player in the dairy, beer and soft drink sectors. Cadbury announced a review of their beverage operations... ...Read more »

Australia is slowly developing a love affair for bottled water, with sales figures indicating it is Australia’s fastest growing beverage. Over the past six years consumption has increased, on average, by 10% per annum and, despite recent negative press, the current 12L consumed by each Australian consumer is set to escalate. The opportunity for growth of Australia’s bottled water industry is staggering if you consider that Italians, the world’s leading consumers of bottled... ...Read more »