UK: Cadbury cuts jobs, quiet on drinks sale

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 14 October 2008

Cadbury has announced it plans to cut 250 jobs as part of a streamlining operation, but the group has remained silent on the disposal of its Australian soft drinks business.

Approximately 250 jobs would go, including senior management positions, as part of a strategy to improve margins, Cadbury said in a third quarter trading update today (14 October).

It did not disclose whether the confectionery giant's Australian soft drinks business would be involved in the job cuts.

Most analysts expect Cadbury to sell the division, which has looked increasingly out of place in the group's business focus, following the group's spin-off of its North American beverages arm in May this year.

Cadbury said beverage revenue in Asia Pacific fell 5% during the third quarter, ended 30 September.

Group revenue growth for the quarter was 6%, slightly below the 7% rise achieved for the year so far, it said.

Sectors: Soft drinks

Companies: Cadbury