Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages will acquire the 55 percent of Dr Pepper/Seven Up Bottling Group it does not already own from investment partner The Carlyle Group and other investors. The $353 million acquisition is expected to result in cost and revenue synergies of $120 million by 2010, with half of that expected by 2008. The company says it will strengthen its route to market and give it more leverage with large retail customers. When complete, the bottling group will be known as Cadbury Schweppes Bottling Group.
In addition, CSAB will acquire All American Bottling Group, the third-largest independent bottling company in the United States, for approximately $65 million. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter.

Anheuser-Busch wholesalers will carry Hansen Natural Corp. beverages such as Monster, Lost and Rumba energy drinks. Hansen will transfer distribution to certain A-B wholesalers during the coming year.

“Anheuser-Busch has a first-class distribution system that will enable Hansen to expand availability and improve the presence of our products across all channels, particularly in areas where our brands historically have been under-represented,” Rodney Sacks, chairman and chief executive officer at Hansen, said in a statement.

The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, reportedly has signed an agreement to be the official beverage on the newly merged America West-US Airways. In other news, Coca-Cola announced it will purchase German water company Apollinaris.

Starbucks Corp., Seattle, will buy 56, or about half, of Barnie’s Coffee & Tea locations. Most of the locations are in Florida. The companies say the deal only affects retail real estate, not Barnie’s products or inventory.

Correction: The packaging feature in the February 2006 issue indicated Nestlé Waters’ Aquapod package was available only in Target stores in the Midwest. The package actually is available through several chains in the Midwest and will be available nationally in June. We regret any confusion this might have caused.