STAMFORD, Conn. -- Cadbury Schweppes Inc. announced Thursday it is moving its international beverage headquarters from London to Stamford and consolidating its worldwide beverage business in Connecticut.
Cadbury Schweppes officials said the moves would mean more than $10 million to the state's economy this year alone and create nearly 200 jobs.
Gov. William A. O'Neill said the consolidation in Connecticut reaffirmed the state as one of the premier business locations in the United States.
'By expanding its presence here, Cadbury Schweppes is making an important commitment to the people of the state,' the governor said.
Under the plan, Cadbury Schweppes also will relocate its Canada Dry and Sunkist soft drink headquarters from Atlanta, Ga., to Stamford, where it already has corporate offices.
The company also plans to build a worldwide beverage research and development center in Trumbull which will open in June, officials said.
Sir Adrian Cadbury, the chairman of Cadbury Schweppes PLC, said the centralization of the company's worldwide beverage operations in Connecticut would allow the company to consolidate marketing and planning operations.
'Bringing together the strategic direction of the corporation's beverage brands worldwide under a single management team in Stamford is an important step in establishing the best structure to support future development,' Cadbury said.
Cadbury Schweppes Beverage President James P. Schadt said the company is positioning itself for rapid growth in the global beverage market.
Company officials said they chose to expand in Connecticut because of the state's quality of life and positive attitude toward business.
'Connecticut offers a high quality of life for our employees and provides one of the nation's most supportive business and government environments,' Schadt said.
'We can combine major international and U.S. business activity here with a life style that is difficult to match anywhere in the United States,' Schadt added.
State Economic Development Commissioner Stephen B. Heintz said the decision by Cadbury Schweppes was particularly important to southwestern Connecticut.
'This announcement demonstrates Fairfield County's continuing ability to attract corporate headquarters,' Heintz said.
The company currently employs 340 people at its corporate offices in Stamford's High Ridge Park. The consolidation will add about 70 jobs to the Stamford headquarters with most of the positions to be filled locally, officials said.
The 45,000-square-foot research and development facility to be opened in Trumbull will employ about 100 people, primarily scientists and engineers, with most positions to be filled locally, officials said.
The Trumbull facility will serve as the worldwide manufacturing headquarters for the company's soft drink concentrate operations and as operations headquarters for Mott's North America, whose products include Mott's and Red Cheek apple-based juices.
Cadbury Schweppes, which operates in 50 countries, had annual sales of $4.3 billion in 1988, officials said.
