July 4 (Bloomberg) -- Coca-Cola Co., the world's biggest soft-drink maker, may consider making a bid for Cadbury Schweppes Plc's Snapple fruit-beverage unit, a move that would fit into its plan to expand with water and teas as soda consumption falls.

Coca-Cola, based in Atlanta, will evaluate whether it can make an offer for the division or submit a joint bid with another company, spokesman Dana Bolden said today, confirming remarks made by Chief Executive Officer E. Neville Isdell to Reuters. Bolden declined to comment further.

Coca-Cola wants to gain market share with new drink products as sales of soda dropped last year for the second year in a row. The company agreed to buy Energy Brands Inc. in May for $4.1 billion, the biggest purchase in its 115-year history, to obtain Glaceau Vitaminwater.

Cadbury Schweppes, the world's biggest confectionery company, said last month that some companies expressed interest in buying the U.S. division that makes Snapple, Dr Pepper and 7 Up. The London-based candy maker didn't identify the potential buyers. It received at least three bids worth about 8 billion pounds ($16.1 billion), the New York Times reported June 18.

Isdell said Coca-Cola is determining whether Snapple ``is of interest to us or whether we can do it on our own,'' Reuters reported today. He answered a question related only to the Snapple brand, Bolden said.

Coca-Cola has spoken with several private-equity funds that already started talks about a bid for Cadbury's U.S. drinks division about buying Snapple, the Wall Street Journal reported today, citing unidentified people.

Peltz's Pressure

The candy maker said it would sell or spin off the unit in March after pressure from investor Nelson Peltz, whose investment firm has accumulated a stake in the company.

Cadbury bought Snapple Beverage Corp. from Peltz's Triarc Cos. for $1.45 billion in October 2000.

Shares of Coca-Cola didn't trade today on the New York Stock Exchange because markets are closed for the U.S. July 4 holiday. Yesterday, they rose 34 cents to $52.90 and have gained 9.6 percent this year. Cadbury Schweppes shares climbed 5 pence to 670.5 pence in London.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kevin Bell in Toronto at kbell2@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: July 4, 2007 17:41 EDT