The owner of Ribena, Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (SBF GB&I), has announced a £14.5m investment in a new state-of-the-art blackcurrant processing facility in Herefordshire. The facility, developed in partnership with Bevisol, a drinks producer within Germany's Döhler Group, is set to process fruit from SBF GB&I's network of 33 British farms, which produce approximately 10,500 tonnes of blackcurrants annually over a six-week summer harvest period.
Investment in British Farming
The new facility will use advanced technologies, including membrane filtration, automated weighing, tipping and handling systems, and digital smart tag tracking on fruit bins, to improve fruit processing efficiency. SBF GB&I, which operates its main UK factory in Coleford, said the facility would support 'the long-term future' of British blackcurrant farming. Blackcurrants are harvested during the summer before being pressed and concentrated for use in Ribena.
Karl Ottomar, supply chain director at SBF GB&I, said: 'This is a huge milestone for SBF GB&I, Ribena and the future of British blackcurrant production. By investing in innovative processing here in the UK, we are supporting our supply chain while continuing to work closely with the farmers who have been at the heart of Ribena for generations.'
Government and Partner Support
Farming minister Stephen Morgan said the investment was 'a vote of confidence in British farming' and the generations of blackcurrant growers whose fruit had 'helped make Ribena a household name'. He added: 'By investing in greener technology and modern processing, projects such as this strengthen UK supply chains, support rural jobs and help ensure British blackcurrant production continues to thrive for years to come.'
The project will support 12 new full-time jobs and an extra 30 seasonal roles, boosting the local economy. Gero Spika, global account director at Döhler, commented: 'Our partnership with SBF GB&I brings together processing expertise, innovation and targeted investment in a future-ready facility for UK fruit preparation. This project strengthens our global partnership with Suntory while reflecting our shared commitment to enhancing local production capabilities, supporting jobs in the region and contributing to the long-term future of British blackcurrant farming.'
Part of Wider Investment Programme
First created in 1938, Ribena has been rooted in British blackcurrants for nearly 90 years. In recent years, the business has made multi-million pound investments in a blackcurrant breeding programme with the James Hutton Institute and a regenerative agriculture pilot in Norfolk. The announcement is part of a wider programme of investment by Suntory Beverage & Food across SBF GB&I's UK supply chain, totalling £57.5m. This includes projects at its Coleford factory to strengthen manufacturing capability and reduce emissions, such as upgrading the site's electricity connection and reducing reliance on its gas turbine, alongside a new £25m manufacturing line planned for 2027.
