The grandson of the founder of Nichols plc and inventor of Vimto is to step down as the company's non-executive chairman, it has been announced.
John Nichols has worked for the Newton-le-Willows-headquartered business for more than 50 years.
In a statement to the London Stock Exchange, the firm said he will retire "once a suitable replacement is identified and appointed".
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The formal process to find his successor has been started by the board's nomination committee.
Mr Nichols joined the business in 1971 and was appointed as director in 1975.
In 1986 he became the group managing director and was later named executive chairman. In 2007 he moved to become its non-executive chairman.
Nichols plc, which also makes Slush Puppie, has also confirmed its group revenue for the three months to March 31, 2022, increased by 28.9% year-on-year to £39.6m.
The Vimto brand achieved growth of 10.8% in value terms in the year to date while the group's out of home route to market continues to recover from the impact of the pandemic and has seen growth of 1,387% year-on-year given the Covid restrictions through Q1 2021.
