Dairy Milk maker Cadbury today began life once more as a pure confectionery firm after spinning off its American drinks arm.

News of a multi-billion deal in the confectionery sector and better-than-expected results from Whitbread helped consumer stocks make strong advances on the London market today.

Chocolate giant Mars is poised to announce a US$22bn (€14m) bid to buy the Wrigley chewing gum group, it was reported today.

Online gaming companies were on the front foot today amid hopes of consolidation in the battered sector.

A STICKY political row erupted last night as Environment Minister Dick Roche was accused of selling out to chewing gum companies at a cost of €20 million a year to taxpayers.

Chewing-gum manufacturers have reportedly agreed to pay €2m annually to fund efforts to reduce the amount of litter caused by their products on Irish streets.

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.

The Government has reportedly abandoned its plans to introduce consumer taxes on chewing gum, fast-food wrappings and ATM receipts despite the success of the 15c plastic bag levy.

Stocks were mixed today with blue chip and tech shares rising only modestly despite lower oil prices and several mergers and acquisitions, including Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.’s 1.5 billion dollar bid for several candy brands from Kraft Foods Inc.

ULTRA-TIDY Singapore has lifted its ban on chewing gum after 12 long years — but only for registered users.

Ultra-tidy Singapore has lifted its notorious ban on chewing gum after 12 years – but only for registered users. Gum dealers face jail if they break the rules.

Chicago-based chewing gum manufacturer Wrigley has agreed to pay $272m (€213m) in cash for a subsidiary of Spanish food conglomerate Agrolimen.

The European Commission today approved a joint venture between Swiss food giant Nestle and Colgate-Palmolive to develop and market oral-care gums and lozenges in Britain and Ireland.

The European Court of Justice has upheld a decision to block the Wrigley’s chewing gum maker from trademarking its “Doublemint” brand across the EU.

More than 100 viewers have complained about a British TV ad featuring a sex party – to say it was “fattist”.

A commercial for Wrigley’s chewing gum that features a dog crawling out of a man’s mouth has become the most complained-about advert of all time in the UK.