Suntory Invests £57.5 Million in Coleford Factory for Sustainability

Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I (SBF GB&I), the maker of Lucozade and Ribena, is celebrating 80 years since the inception of its Coleford factory in the Forest of Dean. Known locally as the 'Ribena factory', it began producing the iconic blackcurrant drink in 1947, followed by Lucozade in 1957. Today, the site produces over 420 million litres of these drinks annually for the UK and Ireland.

SBF GB&I has announced a £57.5 million investment in its supply chain aimed at improving operational efficiency, supporting the UK's decarbonisation efforts, and boosting the local economy. This includes a £25 million state-of-the-art manufacturing line set to commence production in 2027 and a £14.5 million next-generation blackcurrant processing facility in Ledbury, operational for this summer's harvest.

Significant investment has also been directed towards sustainability. Over the past six years, more than £13 million has been spent on enhancing the recyclability of bottles for Ribena, Lucozade Sport, and Lucozade Energy. An additional £6 million is allocated for an electrification project to reduce reliance on the factory's gas turbine, with the aim of cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 58%, exceeding the 2030 target.

Beyond financial investments, the Coleford factory's success is closely tied to its people, with more than 300 employees contributing to the site, over half of whom have been with the company for at least a decade. The factory also supports the community through the Together for Good Community Fund, pledging up to £2.5 million by 2030, including £125,000 for the Forest of Dean.

Elise Seibold, CEO of SBF GB&I, highlighted the commitment to ensuring the factory's future, while Karl Ottomar, Supply Chain Director, emphasized the importance of investing in people and community as key to the site's continued success.