Mondelez International Inc., the snacks and sweets company, is exploring an acquisition of iconic US chocolate maker Hershey Co., in a potential deal that would create a food giant with combined sales of almost $50 billion,

Mondelez is exploring an acquisition of iconic chocolate maker Hershey, in a potential deal that would create a food giant with combined sales of almost $50 billion.

(Reuters) -Cadbury-parent Mondelez International is exploring the acquisition of chocolate maker Hershey, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter, in what would create one of the world's largest confectioners.

Mondelez International Inc, the snacks and sweets company, is exploring an acquisition of iconic US chocolate maker Hershey Co, in a potential deal that would create a food giant with combined sales of almost US$50bil,

A takeover would top the value of the year’s biggest deal: snack maker Mars Inc.’s agreement to buy Kellanova for nearly $36 billion.

Hershey's stockholders received an unexpected boost on Monday as the price of shares climbed following reports of a buy out.

Both Mondelez and Hershey declined to comment on the report when contacted by BBC News. The approach is still in the preliminary stages and it is not certain that talks will lead to a deal, according to Bloomberg.

Mondelez International, the company behind brands like Oreo and Cadbury, is reportedly considering acquiring The Hershey Company, a move that could create one of the world's largest confectionery firms,