Coca-Cola expands reach

Coca-Cola announces May 25 it will acquire Energy Brands Inc., known as glaceau, for $4.1 bil. in cash. Glaceau's, which owns brands such as vitaminwater,smartwater and vitaminenergy, will operate as a separate business unit within Coca-Cola North America. "This structure will allow glaceau to continue to win in the marketplace by maximizing its focus, speed, sales and execution capabilities," Coca-Cola says in a release. The transaction is expected to close in the summer, subject to customary regulatory review. Glaceau most recently introduced vitaminwater xxx to the marketplace. The product contains antioxidants acai, blueberry and pomegranate (1"The Tan Sheet" April 2, 2007, p. 14)...