Cadbury Schweppes has announced the $691m takeover by American Bottling Co, its joint venture with US venture capital group Carlyle, of independent bottling company Dr Pepper Bottling of Texas. The takover will create "the largest independent soft drinks bottling company in the USA", with 10 plants and more than 7,500 employees, according to Cadbury Schweppes. Cadbury Schweppes will have 40% of the share and Carlyle 53%, while Jim Turner, currently chief executive of Dr Pepper Bottling Company, a post which he is to retain in the new group - and other managers will own the remainder. "This is a further significant step forward towards consolidation and strengthening of the independent bottling system in the USA," said the chief executive of Cadbury Schweppes.
