Shop Talk

Dr Pepper Snapple Group debuted on the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday after being spun off from British candy and gum company Cadbury. 
 
The company is putting together a five-year plan to improve its business in Latin America, but its main focus will be on selling more drinks in the United States, Chief Executive Larry Young told Reuters.
 
Unfortunately, that might not be what Wall Street wants to hear.
 
Dr Pepper’s exposure to the sluggish U.S. soft drinks business could hurt growth.
 
 ”The firm has a mixed stable of brands, lacks the scale and product portfolio breadth enjoyed by larger rivals Coke and Pepsi, and relies almost exclusively on the mature and highly competitive U.S. market,” Morningstar analyst Mitchell Corwin said.
 
Still, Young says the company’s brands will take care of themselves.
 
“We have great brands, great people and are focused on delivering great results,” he said. “We’ll let the market take care of the price.”

(Reuters photo)