Soft drink bottler Refresco has announced that it is to acquire three juice manufacturing facilities from Britvic, in France.
The transaction will include juice manufacturing units in La-Roche-sur-Foron, Château-Thébaud and Nissan-lez-Enserune, related retailer brands business, and the Fruité brand.
The proposed deal is subject to customary closing conditions, employee consultation, and approval from the French competition authority.
'An Important Market'
Commenting on the acquisition, Hans Roelofs, CEO of Refresco Group, said, "France is an important market for Refresco and with this acquisition, we create better national coverage and [...] further potential to serve customers’ demands.
"We currently provide Britvic with contract manufacturing services in Benelux and the UK. This acquisition in France further strengthens our relationship."
The deal also includes a long-term contract manufacturing agreement with Britvic on the production of its brands Pressade and Fruit Shoot, Refresco added.
Olivier Mercier, Britvic's managing director in France, said, "This proposed transaction with Refresco allows Britvic to continue [its] leadership in the core syrups business while ensuring the optimal development of its flagship brands in children's drinks and juices, Fruit Shoot, and Pressade."
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
