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Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I has invested £14.5 million in a new blackcurrant processing facility designed to strengthen UK agricultural supply chains, improve traceability, support British growers and modernise fruit processing for Ribena.
New processing facility boosts supply chain resilience
Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (SBF GB&I) has announced a £14.5 million investment in a next-generation blackcurrant processing facility in Herefordshire, reinforcing its long-term commitment to British agriculture and domestic food manufacturing.
Developed in partnership with Döhler Group’sBevisol Ltd, the new facility in Ledbury will begin operating in time for the 2026 blackcurrant harvest. Located closer to both key growing regions and SBF GB&I’s production site, the facility is expected to improve operational efficiency while strengthening the resilience of the Ribena supply chain.
“This is a huge milestone for SBF GB&I, Ribena and the future of British blackcurrant production,” said Karl Ottomar, Supply Chain Director at SBF GB&I.
“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.”
Technology investment improves efficiency and traceability
The new facility introduces a range of advanced processing technologies aimed at improving productivity, product quality and supply chain visibility.
These include vapour recompression evaporators to increase processing efficiency, cleanable membrane filtration systems, automated fruit handling and weighing equipment, and digital smart-tag tracking to enhance traceability throughout the blackcurrant supply chain.
The investment forms part of Suntory’s wider strategy to modernise UK operations while improving supply chain transparency and resilience.
Supporting British growers and regional manufacturing
SBF GB&I sources around 10,500 tonnes of blackcurrants annually from a network of 33 British farms across five growing regions, supplying fruit used in Ribena.
The new processing facility is expected to create 12 permanent jobs and 30 seasonal roles, supporting rural employment alongside long-term investment in UK fruit production.
“This investment is a vote of confidence in British farming and the generations of blackcurrant growers whose fruit has helped make Ribena a household name,” he said.
“By investing in greener technology and modern processing, projects such as this strengthen UK supply chains, support rural jobs and help ensure British blackcurrant production continues to thrive for years to come.”
Part of a wider investment in sustainable manufacturing
The announcement is one element of a broader £57.5 million investment across Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I’s UK supply chain.
Alongside the new processing facility, the company is investing in manufacturing upgrades at its Coleford site, including plans to reduce reliance on gas through electricity infrastructure improvements and the installation of a new £25 million production line scheduled for 2027.
The investment also builds on longer-term initiatives to strengthen UK blackcurrant production, including Suntory’s breeding programme with the James Hutton Institute and a regenerative agriculture pilot supporting British growers.
This article was produced by the editorial team at EME Outlook and published as part of the Outlook Publishing global network of B2B industry magazines.
Outlook Publishing delivers industry insights, company stories, and sector coverage across manufacturing, mining, construction, healthcare, supply chains, food production, and sustainability.
EME Outlook provides ongoing coverage of organisations and developments shaping industries across Europe and the Middle East.
