3 min read - 25 Jun, 2026
Suntory invests £14.5m in next-generation blackcurrant facility
Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (SBF GB&I), the producer of Ribena and Lucozade, is to invest £14.5m in a new, state-of-the-art blackcurrant processing facility in Herefordshire. Developed in partnership with Bevisol, the new facility will be in operation in time for this year’s blackcurrant harvest and will support the long-term future of British blackcurrant farming through modernised fruit preparation and enhanced processing capability.
Blackcurrants are harvested during the summer before being pressed and concentrated for use in Ribena. The blackcurrants sourced from SBF GB&I’s network of British growers will be prepared at Bevisol’s newly developed facility in Ledbury, Herefordshire, which is located closer to the heart of the growing regions and closer to SBF GB&I’s factory. This investment provides a modern, dedicated facility for this critical stage of production.
The Bevisol facility introduces advanced technologies to improve efficiency, traceability and operational performance across blackcurrant processing. Advanced evaporators powered by vapour recompression technology will support modern, high-capacity processing, while automated weighing, tipping and handling systems will enhance consistency across operations. Additionally, cleanable membrane filtration replaces conventional filtration methods and improves operational efficiency, with digital smart tag tracking on fruit bins improving visibility throughout the supply chain.
Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I has partnered with Bevisol on a new £14.5m blackcurrant processing facility in Herefordshire / Picture: SBF GB&I
Karl Ottomar, supply chain director at SBF GB&I, said: “This is a huge milestone for SBF GB&I, Ribena and the future of British blackcurrant production. By investing in innovative processing here in the UK, we are supporting our supply chain while continuing to work closely with the farmers who have been at the heart of Ribena for generations.”
The investment builds on SBF GB&I’s long-standing relationship with British blackcurrant growers, who have supplied fruit for Ribena for generations. The company sources blackcurrants from 33 farms across five growing regions in the UK, representing approximately 10,500 tonnes of fruit harvested annually over a six-week period. The project will also support jobs in the region with 12 new full-time roles and an additional 30 seasonal roles.
The new facility will be in operation in time for this year’s blackcurrant harvest, creating 12 new full-time positions and 30 seasonal roles / Picture: SBF GB&I
Gero Spika, global account director, added: “Our partnership with SBF GB&I brings together processing expertise, innovation and targeted investment in a future-ready facility for UK fruit preparation. This project strengthens our global partnership with Suntory while reflecting our shared commitment to enhancing local production capabilities, supporting jobs in the region and contributing to the long-term future of British blackcurrant farming.”
First created in 1938, Ribena has been rooted in British blackcurrants for nearly 90 years. Today, the business continues to invest in the future of UK blackcurrant growing, including multi-million pound investments in a blackcurrant breeding programme with the James Hutton Institute and a regenerative agriculture pilot in Norfolk.
The announcement is part of a wider programme of investment by Suntory across SBF GB&I’s UK supply chain (£57.5m), including recent projects at its Coleford factory to strengthen manufacturing capability and reduce emissions. This includes plans to upgrade the site’s electricity connection and reduce reliance on its gas turbine, alongside a new £25m manufacturing line in 2027.
