Cadbury Schweppes Australia continues the separation of its confectionery and beverages operations before a likely sale of the $800 million drinks unit early in 2009.

Its British parent, Cadbury plc, issued a third-quarter trading update on Tuesday, confirming plans to reconfigure Cadbury Schweppes' chocolate manufacturing operations in Australia and New Zealand but making no mention of the strategic review of the beverages business, which started in July.