Coca-Cola, Nestle End Drink Joint Venture

NEW YORK - Coca-Cola Co. and Nestle SA say they will dissolve their joint venture created three years ago to market canned and bottled tea and coffee worldwide.

But the two huge consumer companies still plan to cooperate in developing markets for the beverages. Under a new pact, Atlanta-based Coca-Cola gets primary responsibility for marketing Nestea in cans or bottles around the world. Swiss-based Nestle will call the signals for Nescafe coffee drinks.

The beverages will be distributed "whenever possible" through the global Coca-Cola bottling system, the companies said.

The moves appear to reflect a desire by both companies to take more direct control over their involvement in marketing such drinks rather than disillusionment with the potential of the beverage categories.

Last month, Pepsi-Cola Co., the nation's second-biggest soft drink company, agreed to form a partnership with Starbucks to develop ready-to-drink coffee beverages.