Nestle Buys Gerber, Announces New Chocolate Baby Foods

Now, a word from the world of mergers and acquisitions. Usually not a topic on Scott's Spot, but today we must make an exception. Nestle SA, the world's biggest food and drink company, has announced that it will buy Gerber Products Co. for $5.5 billion, giving it the lion's share of the global baby food market.

Chocolate-smeared hands at Nestle headquarters in Geneva were rubbed together in glee as plans were laid to create a new generation of youthful chocolate addicts. New products under discussion include:

• Junior Toll House Cookies and Cream
• KitKat Teething Biscuits
• First Foods Strained Butterfingers
• Nestle Quik Microwaveable Bottles

Mars, the parent company of M&M's, is rumored to be in talks to acquire Beech-Nut Baby Foods.