UK's Mandelson To Meet Kraft CEO Rosenfeld Tuesday

U.K. business minister Peter Mandelson is to meet with the chief executive of Kraft Foods Inc (KFT) later Tuesday to discuss the U.S. food giant's commitment to U.K. jobs and investment, following its GBP11.9 billion purchase of Cadbury PLC (CBY).

Mandelson's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said the meeting with Irene Rosenfeld would take place Tuesday evening. Kraft's offer for the U.K. confectioner is expected to become unconditional Tuesday once it has secured acceptances from 50% of Cadbury's shares.

The takeover has attracted much criticism in the U.K., with trade unions warning of thousands of job losses as decisions over the 200 year-old confectioner's future are taken out of the U.K.

"We understand the strength of feeling for this company across the U.K.," The government department said, "however the decision on the Kraft bid is a matter for the Cadbury shareholders."

-By Michael Carolan, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9278; [e-mail]