An independent soft drinks, spirits and beer company and distributor has announced record sales and a big rise in overseas business.
Global Brands, which owns drinks including Franklin & Sons, Hooch and VK said it saw a near 27 per cent rise in turnover in the year to the end of last September, from £66.6 million to £84.4 million.
The Derbyshire-based company said it was now the biggest supplier of branded canned cocktails to the UK off trade, and the biggest supplier of ready-to-drink products into the UK on-premises. Its portfolio of brands includes All Shook Up, Shake Baby Shake, Corky’s, Beviamo, Kick Energy, Lustre, and Amigos Tequila Beer.
Management said the business reported a 50 per cent increase in international business last year to £5 million. That included growing US sales of premium tonics, sodas, and soft drinks brand Franklin & Sons.
The business said it had an operating profit of £6.9 million compared to £6.1 million in the previous financial year.
Founder and chairman Steve Perez said: “Global Brands, the UK’s leading independent drinks business, has had another fantastic year. 21/22 has been our sixth successive year of growth, almost doubling our turnover in the last five years.
“We’ve recently purchased the trademarks for Hooch, Hooper’s, and Reef from Molson Coors, and have lots of exciting new products in the pipeline. We’re now the biggest supplier of branded canned cocktails in the UK off trade, and the biggest supplier of RTDs into the on trade.
“Franklin & Sons is now the second biggest premium tonic in the UK on trade, and we’ve seen fantastic growth for the brand in the UK and especially internationally, in markets in Asia, through Europe, and from our newly opened office in the USA.
“We’re unique in that we create everything in-house, from design, marketing, and NPD through to the distribution of our brands from here in Chesterfield and Clay Cross – areas where we’ve invested just under £3 million in the last year. From our base in Derbyshire, we employ almost 200 people, and our success is down to the fantastic teams that drive these brands forward.
“While economic conditions have been challenging in the six months since we’ve published our accounts, especially in regard to energy and raw material costs, we’re confident going forward that the company will continue its momentum in the next financial year.”
Global Brands recently acquired the trademarks for Hooch, Hooper’s, and Reef from Molson Coors and recently completed a £2 million expansion at its distribution centre, increasing storage capacity from 30 million to 40 million products.
