Trading in Dr Pepper shares opens

PLANO (AP) - A new company that makes Dr Pepper and Snapple made its Wall Street debut today.

Trading has begun in Dr Pepper Snapple Group Incorporated after the Plano-based beverage group was spun off from former owner Cadbury Schweppes.

Dr Pepper Snapple is listed on the New York Stock Exchange as DPS. It had 5.7 billion dollars in sales last year while part of the British confectioner. It bottles soft drinks, tea, water and other beverages under such brands as Dr Pepper, 7UP, Canada Dry, Schweppes, Mott's, Sunkist and RC Cola.

Cadbury spun off the beverages division to focus on its core candy business. Last month, a Lehman Brothers analyst said the beverages company will face many challenges, including high commodity costs and competition from Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, which have much larger market shares.