The Spanish group CHUPA CHUPS (turnover of €264 million in 2004 with workforce of 1600), known mainly for its lollypops (more than 4 bn units sold every year), has been taken over by the Italian confectionary grouped PERFETTI VAN MELLE (turnover of €1.5 bn expected for 2006, 100 million more than in 2005, with 12,000 employees) for €400 million, according to the Spanish press.