Chocolate maker Cadbury Schweppes says it has overtaken Mars for the first time to become the world's biggest selling confectioner.

Its best sales performance in a decade meant it had secured a 9.9 per cent global market share, the Bournville, Birmingham-based company revealed.

Cadbury's 2005 showing included a 21 per cent increase in sales of Trident chewing gum and a 7 per cent hike in demand for its trademark Dairy Milk chocolate.