FDBusiness.com

Refresco, the world’s largest independent bottler of beverages for retailers and A-brands with production in Europe and North America, has completed the acquisition of Britvic’s three juice manufacturing facilities in France along with a related private label juice business and the Fruité brand, following the receipt of regulatory approval from the French competition authority. Now that the acquisition is completed, Refresco has seven bottling facilities strategically located in France, with national coverage to serve customers’ demands. The integration process will commence immediately.

Building on Refresco’s existing services provided to Britvic in Benelux and the UK, the acquisition also includes a long-term contract manufacturing agreement for manufacturing Britvic’s flagship brands Pressade and Fruit Shoot. The transaction will not affect Britvic’s Teisseire and Moulin De Valdonne brands or the private label syrups business, all of which are all manufactured at the company’s production site in Crolles. The disposal supports Britvic’s stated strategic priority to improve operating margins in our Western European markets, while also enables our teams to focus on growing our soft drinks portfolio of local favourite and global premium brands.