Partnership may make sweet news

CONFECTIONERY rivals Cadbury Schweppes and Nestle are to join forces to make a £8 billion bid for US sweets giant Hershey, it was reported yesterday.

British-based Cadbury and its Swiss counterpart are believed to have discussed plans to carve up Hershey between them. Such a partnership would prevent interest from Nestle falling foul of regulators.

Hershey Foods is the world’s third largest chocolate maker behind Mars and Nestle and includes Reese’s peanut butter cups, Twizzlers candy and Kisses chocolates in its portfolio.