• The New York Times, Friday, December 21, 2007 11:45 AM

The cast of colorful suitors for Godiva included Starbucks, Hershey's, William Wrigley Jr. and several private equity firms, but in the end Campbell sold the Belgian chocolate maker to Yildiz Holding of Turkey for $850 million.

Campbell decided to sell Godiva--which it acquired in 1967 and built into a worldwide phenomenon--to focus more on its traditional business of soups and snacks. It is increasingly marketing its products as part of a healthy lifestyle--one that chocolate may not fit.

Godiva will become part of the Ulker Group, which is owned by Yildiz. Ulker is the largest consumer-goods company in the Turkish food industry, with businesses in cookies, chocolate, confectionery, beverages and dairy. The acquisition may help the company expand its business internationally.

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