The History of Cadbury Schweppes
In 1783, in Geneva, Switzerland, Jacob Schweppes independently developed a process of adding carbonation into mineral water and Schweppes was born.
A number of years later, in the United Kingdom in 1824, John Cadbury began selling tea and coffee.
These sales were bolstered by his increasing sales of coca and chocolate.
Cadbury Schweppes was formed in 1969 via merger of Schweppes (predominantly beverages) and Cadbury (predominantly confectionary/chocolate).
Hence, the merger in 1969 was of giants on the carbonated soft drink (CSD) and confectionary (Cadbury) market reflecting their primary lines of business.
Today, Cadbury Schweppes has the largest share of the global confectionary market and a strong regional presence with carbonated soft drinks in North America.
Their carbonated soft drinks portfolio was enhanced greatly through numerous acquisitions, over the years including A&W in 1993 and Dr Pepper/7 Up in 1995.
Outside of the carbonated soft drinks market Cadbury Schweppes acquired Snapple beverages in 2000. In 2005, Cadbury Schweppes has over $11 billion revenue and a stock market valuation over $21 billion.
In 2004, Cadbury Schweppes had a combined 14.4 percent share of the carbonated soft drinks market in the United States.
The History of Cadbury Schweppes