Suntory Beverage & Food Great Britain & Ireland (SBF GB&I) is to invest £25m in a new manufacturing line at its Coleford factory, home to Lucozade and Ribena production.
The new ‘Apollo 5’ line is to replace two older Ribena production lines with a singular line that produces both Ribena and Lucozade goods.
The upgrade was designed to “improve efficiency and reduce operational complexity”, said Suntory, adding that the new line was capable of producing 55,000 bottles per hour.
Work on the new line will begin this year, with the first production run expected in early 2027.
An estimated £2.1m will be spent with local organisations across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and South Wales during construction, said the supplier.
The investment forms part of a wider £57m supply chain programme at the 80-year-old factory. Last year, the supplier launched a major sustainability project there to electrify operations and reduce its reliance on a gas turbine.
Elise Seibold, chief operating officer at SBF GB&I, said: “This next chapter is about investing in our factory to strengthen the future of two iconic British brands, Lucozade and Ribena. We’re dedicating £25 million to this new line to set us up for long-term success and it wouldn’t be possible without the support from our Suntory owners in Japan.
”As we celebrate 80 years since our factory was first built, it reinforces our commitment to the Forest of Dean in the South West and we’re proud to be major contributors to the regional economy.”
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