Chocolate maker Cadbury Schweppes today looked set to raise £109m (€156m) following an agreement to sell its South African drinks business Bormor.

Cadbury Schweppes sold another non-core business today by agreeing to offload its Holland House brand of cooking wines for $37m (€31m).

Cadbury Schweppes today unveiled plans for a new £70m (€104m) chewing gum factory in Poland as it said trading in 2005 was in line with expectations.

Irn Bru-to-Tizer company AG Barr lifted underlying half-year profits today, despite a “sluggish” market for the carbonated drinks sector.

The owner of Pepsi cola was today reported to have entered the battle for ownership of the European drinks arm of Cadbury Schweppes.

A bid approach for Exel and positive results from drinks giant Diageo helped the FTSE 100 Index post strong gains for a third session in a row today.

A flurry of deal-making activity excited the London market today as the FTSE 100 Index continued its recovery towards the three-year highs seen last month.

Cadbury Schweppes put the drinks unit behind Oasis and Orangina up for sale today after its growth lagged behind other parts of the business.

Cadbury Schweppes today distanced itself from reports that it was preparing to sell its drinks unit that makes Orangina and Oasis.

Confectionery group Cadbury Schweppes today said it was expecting full-year profits to be at the lower end of expectations after a difficult summer for its European drinks business.

BRITISH venture capital firm Electra Partners is expecting to finalise its purchase of BWG wholesalers within days.