UK: Suntory to invest £25 million in Coleford facility

The UK arm of global soft drinks manufacturer Suntory has announced plans to invest £25 million ($31 million) in a new high-speed manufacturing line at its factory in Coleford.

Known as “Apollo 5”, the new aseptic production line will consolidate the manufacturing of Lucozade and Ribena into a single high-speed system, replacing two older Ribena lines that currently separate the production of concentrate and ready-to-drink formats. The investment is part of a broader £57 million ($71 million) supply chain upgrade programme at the Gloucestershire site, which is currently marking its 80th anniversary.

Capable of producing up to 55,000 bottles per hour, the technology uses heat and pressurised air for cleaning rather than water, which the company claimed would significantly reduce energy and water consumption during the filling process.

The move follows a previous investment at the facility in 2020, when the company inaugurated a £13 million ($17 million) bottling line designed to increase the production of low-sugar varieties.

Commenting on the news, Elise Seibold, chief operating officer at Suntory subsidiary SBF GB&I, said: “This next chapter is about investing in our factory to strengthen the future of two iconic British brands, Lucozade and Ribena. We’re dedicating £25 million to this new line to set us up for long-term success, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support from our Suntory owners in Japan”.

The new line is expected to be fully operational by early 2027.

Source: Suntory / FoodBev