AUS: Danone prepares Frucor sale - report

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 1 October 2008

French food and drink giant Groupe Danone has drawn up a short list of possible buyers for its Frucor Beverages business in Australia and New Zealand, according to a report.

Potential buyers are thought to include P&N beverages and Coca-Cola Amatil, the latter of which has attempted to recruit private equity groups in order to satisfy competition concerns, according to a report in the Australian Financial Review this week.

Danone confirmed to just-drinks ealier this month that it had begun a review of the division, which includes the sought-after V energy drink brand.

It emphasised that there was no certainty of a sale.

Speculation has spiralled on Australia's soft drinks market in the last couple months, with Cadbury Schweppes also understood to be preparing a sale of its own soft drinks division in the country.

Sectors: Soft drinks

Companies: Danone, Coca-Cola Amatil, Cadbury