Soya firm buys soft drinks

Related tags Soft drinks United kingdom

British soft drinks producer T Kearns has been acquired by the soya
ingredients group Soya International.

UK food ingredients supplier Soya International has acquired the soft drinks and juice manufacturing business from Bradford-based company T Kearns.

The business, under the new name of Simran Enterprises, will add to the growing Soya International portfolio, which already has manufacturing and sales operations in the UK.

Sonny Arora, managing director of Soya International, said: "We are delighted to have successfully completed this deal in such little time. Our objective is to continue to produce and market high quality, value added soft drinks for today's demanding consumer. This deal will enable us to diversify our range and produce established brands in a growing market."

T Kearns, formerly a division of Lancashire Dairies, produces a range of non-carbonated soft drinks including the brands Thirsty, Quencha and Jungle Barrels from the former Express Dairy site in Laisterdyke, Bradford.

The purchase includes the drinks trademarks, plant and machinery and stock in addition to the freehold of the factory in Bradford. Turnover for next year for the drinks business is predicted to be £6 million (€9.2m) and will be run by the existing management team in Bradford.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Related topics Manufacturers Soft Drinks & Water