Is Nestlé on the verge of buying Hershey?
Swiss food group Nestlé is rumoured to be looking at a potential acquisition of US outfit Hershey which recently backed away from a bid for UK giant Cadbury. Despite the fact that the Hershey Trust, a charitable organisation set up many years ago, effectively controls the company via its share stake and voting rights there is a feeling that market forces could at least force the trustees of the charitable trust to consider a takeover.
It would appear that there may be repercussions for the food sector after the acquisition of Cadbury by Kraft Foods. The increased market presence and size of the Kraft Foods operation has already prompted rumours and speculation about further consolidation in the sector and it seems highly likely that other companies aside from Hershey will at some point be mentioned.
As we have seen in the past, one merger or acquisition can often prompt a power shift in various sectors of the worldwide economy. Companies such as Nestlé have the firepower to make things happen and are unlikely to sit back and watch Kraft Foods cherry pick the best markets and the best companies in the sector. But who will be next?
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