LONDON — Cadbury shareholders have approved Kraft Foods’ roughly $19.5 billion offer to acquire the British candymakerthe final step in creating a global food giant. Focus shifts to how Kraft will combine the companies and prove it was worth the bitter fight.
Kraft announced Tuesday that nearly 72 percent of Cadbury shareholders voted in support of the deal. Together, the companies have roughly $50 billion in annual revenue through sales in 160 countries with their product lineup ranging from Kraft Macaroni & Cheese to Cadbury’s Creme Eggs. The deal gives Kraft access to critical growing international markets, such as India and Latin America, where Cadbury thrives.
“This combination is about growth, and it is about the opportunity to create a global powerhouse,” Kraft chief executive Irene Rosenfeld said. The Associated Press
