Cadbury Schweppes sell German subsidiary

The UK confectionery and beverage concern Cadbury Schweppes plc, London, has sold its German subsidiary Piasten Schokoladenfabrik GmbH & Co KG, Forchheim. The sale, in the form of an MBO, was closed on June 10th 2005. The new owners are Piasten managers Rolf Schröppel (head of distribution and marketing at Piasten), Michael Seidl (CFO) and Bertram Strothmann (exports).
Following the MBO the owners aim to concentrate on the company’s core competences and continue the exceptional growth achieved at the Forchheim facility over the past few years.


There will be co-operation with Cadbury Schweppes; selected Cadbury products will continue to be distributed in Germany and Austria by Piasten. The company, located in the Franconia region in north Bavaria, was acquired by Cadbury Schweppes in 1992. Piasten performed strongly both on the home market and abroad. However because the Piasten focus differed from that of other Cadbury subsidiaries in Europe synergy effects were limited, according to a press release. In the light of Cadbury’s ongoing strategic reorganisation Piasten was no longer considered a natural fit.