The Guardian (UK): Cadbury: Britain's 'most admired': “The award is made after a poll conducted by Nottingham Business School for Management Today magazine.”: “Among those whose respect ratings have plunged are Shell, down from 5th to 64th, and Morrisons, down from 9th to 75th place.” (ShellNews.net) 2 Dec 04

Julia Finch

Thursday December 2, 2004

Sweets and drinks giant Cadbury Schweppes has ousted Tesco as the UK's most admired company.

The supermarket giant, which repeatedly announces market-beating results and is on track to deliver profits of £2bn this year, has won the "most admired" accolade four times in the decade since it was established.

But this year it has slipped to fourth, behind Unilever and BP as well as Cadbury, as a result of low marks for its community and environmental responsibility.

The award is made after a poll conducted by Nottingham Business School for Management Today magazine. The biggest companies across 22 market sectors evaluate their peers and rate them on a range of criteria, including quality of management, financial soundness, quality of goods and services, innovation and corporate social responsibility.

The survey's summary does not explain why Tesco is regarded as having fallen short in the latter category.

One consolation for the supermarket, however, is that its chief executive Sir Terry Leahy has retained the title of Most Admired Business Leader. He secured twice as many votes as second-placed Lord Browne of BP.

An entrant to the top 10 is the hedge fund operator, Man Group - rated fifth, up from 27th last year. Just outside the premier league is brewing and pubs group Greene King, up from 113th to 11th.

Among those whose respect ratings have plunged are Shell, down from 5th to 64th, and Morrisons, down from 9th to 75th place.

It is the second time that Cadbury Schweppes has won the Most Admired award - it first picked up the accolade in 1995 and has rarely been out of the top 10 grouping since the award was established.

The company, whose brands include Dr Pepper, Trebor, Snapple, Dentyne, Halls, Bassett and Bubblicious, traces its origins back two centuries. It operates in more than 190 countries and employs some 55,000 staff.

The company's chief executive, Todd Stitzer, said Cadbury's success was a result of "unrelenting focus on working together to create brands people love" and a strong commitment to "our suppliers, to our customers and the communities we live and work in".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,1364275,00.html