July 13/Tokyo, Japan/Associated Press Financial Wire -- Japan's top two beverage makers, Kirin and Suntory, are considering merging their operations, a Suntory spokesman said.
A merger would create the world's fifth largest food company by sales, just behind Kraft Foods Inc. and Pepsico Inc., the Nikkei business newspaper reported. It also would help the companies overcome a saturated domestic market with an aging population and compete more strongly with large international brands.