Cott Beverages buys UK firm Calypso Soft Drinks

By Ben BOUCKLEY

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Soft drinks United kingdom Mineral

Cott Beverages has signed a deal to acquire UK food service player Cooke Bros Holdings for a undisclosed sum, and said the purchase fitted its diversification strategy as it aims to bring new soft drink packaging formats to market.

Cooke Bros Holdings subsidiaries include Calypso Soft Drinks and Mr. Freeze (Europe) - referred to together as Calypso Soft Drinks. The company is a privately owned soft drink and freezeable business based in Wrexham, UK.

Steve Corby, director of Cott Beverages, said: “The Calypso Soft Drinks acquisition falls within the diversification strategy of Cott Beveragres as it brings new soft drink packaging formats such as single-serve Combi cartons, single-serve cups and cuplets and two freezeable formats into the Cott portfolio."

He added: "Calypso Soft Drinks has been highly successful in providing its customers with quality and innovation. We look forward to building on the solid foundation already established.”

Calypso Soft Drinks has revenues of approximately £35m, and claims a strong presence in the foodservice channel (including schools) with an extensive range of branded children’s soft drinks that use its own source of natural mineral water and contain no artificial colours or flavours.

Additionally, the company claims to be the UK market leader in freezeables with its Jubbly, Mr. Freeze and other licensed trademark offerings.

Completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including Office of Fair Trading (OFT) clearance, but is expected to close in June 2013.

Related topics Manufacturers Soft Drinks & Water

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