3 min read - 27 Feb, 2026
Suntory announces £25m investment in Lucozade and Ribena factory
Suntory Beverage & Food Great Britain & Ireland (SBF GB&I), the producer of Lucozade and Ribena, has announced a £25m investment in a new manufacturing line at its Coleford factory.
The factory upgrade forms part of a larger supply chain investment programme from the business, in the 80th year since the factory was built, dedicating over £57m to boost manufacturing capability.
The new line, which will help to futureproof the site, is expected to be operational in 2027, the year the Lucozade brand celebrates its centenary, and will ensure the factory is producing its drinks for many years to come.
Improving efficiency
This singular line replaces two older Ribena lines that currently separate production of concentrate and ready-to-drink formats. This will improve efficiency and reduce operational complexity. Built in a former production area on site, the new line, called ‘Apollo 5’, will use aseptic technology, leveraging heat and pressurised air to clean the bottles and requiring less energy and water when filling. The line will also produce Lucozade, with rapid changeovers between both brands enabling the production of 55,000 bottles per hour on a single line.
The upgrade marks the latest step in a wider investment programme at the Coleford factory, which includes a major sustainability project announced last year to electrify the factory and reduce its reliance on a gas turbine.
Clearance of the old factory lines is underway at SBF GB&I’s Coleford site, marking the first step in the installation of the new £25m Apollo 5 line.
Karl Ottomar, supply chain director, SBF GB&I, said: “We’re not just replacing factory lines, we’re embracing new technology to future-proof our operations and make them more efficient. None of this would be possible without the incredible dedication of our Coleford team and the expertise from our Suntory colleagues in Japan, who continue to drive improvements across the site. This new line is a big step forward, giving us the capability to keep growing and innovating for years to come.”
Enabling economic growth
The announcement reflects SBF GB&I’s ongoing commitment to boost productivity and support long-term growth in the UK. It is expected that £2.1m will be spent with local organisations across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and South Wales during construction. As one of the largest employers in the area, the new line will help sustain hundreds of skilled roles, backing the people, technology and manufacturing capability to keep growing its iconic brands.
Through its heritage site in the Forest of Dean, SBF GB&I combines deep British roots and Japanese innovation to craft unique, high-quality drinks. Suntory’s Monozukuri philosophy drives the business relentlessly to improve day after day, executing every step of production with meticulous attention.
Delivering on sustainability
The new line will also support progress towards the company’s sustainability goals, unlocking the capability for new sustainable packaging projects across its brands. The focus on sustainability is core to SBF GB&I’s company value of ‘Growing for Good’ – a commitment to ensuring that growth and positive impact are always connected.
Work on the new line will begin this year, with the first production run expected in early 2027.
