Cadbury schweppes acquires rest of Dr Pepper... Nestlé records increase in sales... Kimberly-Clark profit down due to rising costs...

Bottling coup
Cadbury Schweppes has acquired the remaining 55% stake in US bottling company Dr Pepper and Seven Up Bottling Group for $353m (£198m). Cadbury, which has a 45% stake, said it would acquire 53% from the Carlyle Group for $334m and the rest of the shares for $19m.

Sales up
Nestlé has recorded a 14.1% increase in first-quarter group sales to CHF22.8bn ($17.96bn). Underlying sales had increased 6.7%, although sales in Britain were flat.

It's Sweet
US chocolate maker Hershey's first-quarter net profit rose 7% to $121m on net sales up just 0.6%.

Advisory
US retailer Wal-Mart has established an Employment Practices Advisory Panel to work with its senior management to develop equal opportunity and diversity initiatives for its US workforce.

Rising costs
Tissue and personal care manufacturer Kimberly-Clark's first-quarter net profit fell 39% to $275m on sales up 4.2% to $4.1bn. It said it remained on track to meet full-year expectations, despite rising raw material and energy costs.

Profit down
Gum manufacturer Wrigley's first-quarter net profit fell from $131m the year before to $111.9m, on net sales up 13% to $1.08bn. The company blamed the profit decrease on increased spending to promote recent acquisitions.

Swiss M&S
Marks and Spencer has opened its first franchise store in Switzerland. The store, which is situated in Geneva, will be operated by Marinopoulos Group.

Pepsico up
Soft drinks giant PepsiCo's first quarter net profit rose 12% to $1.02bn on net sales up 9.4% to $7.21bn.

47% share
Colgate-Palmolive's first-quarter profit rose 11% to $324.5m on sales up 5% at $2.87bn. It has hit a 47% share of the GB toothpaste market.