The soft drink giants - bitter rivals who had joined force in mutual self-interest - pronounced themselves vindicated, saying the government called their products "perfectly safe."

But the Western soft- drink giants are betting on explosive growth in Poland.

The soft-drink truck was owned by Valley Coca-Cola, a division of the soft drink giant.

Dusenberry was well known for his work with one of his major clients, the soft drink giant Pepsi.

For example, Pepsico, the soft drink giant, markets its drinks here under the brand name Lehar Pepsi.

After Stepan officials acknowledged their ties to Coca-Cola, the soft drink giant confirmed those details of its operations.

The widely expected announcement and hints of a bigger shift at the soft drink giant pushed the stock up $3.938 a share, to $65, well above its October low of less than $48.

Executives at Cadbury Schweppes, the candy and soft drink giant, have hinted that they would be interested in buying Orangina.

Crawford had recently been elected to the Board of Directors of Pepsi-Cola and planned to spend a greater part of her time promoting the soft drink giant.

In June 2001, ITV secured a three-year deal with the soft drink giants Coca-Cola to help sponsor their new programme.