Cadbury Sales Buoyed By Wispa Relaunch

Confectionary giant Cadbury Schweppes has today announced strong sales in its confectionary business in the UK, helped by the reintroduction of the popular Wispa brand over the last few months and good response to advertising around its flagship Dairy Milk brand.

The global business today announced that the Wispa had made a “positive contribution” to sales throughout its UK businesses, which had also been helped by a memorable advertising campaign and increasing sales over the initial festive period.

The company announced today that it is anticipating an increase beyond current forecasts of 4-6% growth for the year in its top line revenues, despite underlying economic problems which it is feared could hit consumer-orientated businesses hard over the remainder of this year.

Nevertheless the company today described its initial Christmas sales as positive, saying that it was looking forward to an increase in overall profitability over the year end and in to calendar year 2008 as a result of continuing growth in both its major food and drinks divisions.

Speaking on the recent performance reports, chief executive Todd Stitzer said that whilst they were expecting a bumpy ride as a result of macroeconomic factors, the outlook was nevertheless positive for the leading confectionary brand.

“While the economic outlook for 2008 is uncertain, we are confident that our trading momentum will carry on into the New Year, supported by our confectionery growth and efficiency initiatives,” he said, quoted from the performance reports of today.

Meanwhile the company also announced it was planning to float its beverage division on the New York Stock Exchange, which could see shares in the company which controls 7Up and Dr Pepper traded publicly from next year.

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