A new three year contract has been signed between Lucozade Ribena Suntory Limited and Thatchers Cider Limited, that will see all the blackcurrants grown for Ribena in the UK pressed at Thatchers’ mill in Somerset.

Thatchers has been pressing the blackcurrants for Ribena for the last seventeen years, and this new agreement marks the continuation of the partnership with the iconic brand’s new owners.

The Ribena and Lucozade brands became a part of Japanese based global soft drink company, Suntory Global Beverage and Food Limited, on 1 January 2014.

James Wickham, Head of Blackcurrant Procurement for Lucozade Ribena Suntory comments, “Last year we pressed a record breaking 13,000 tonnes of blackcurrants at Thatchers mill at Myrtle Farm. Our two companies have had a long and successful partnership and as the Ribena brand moves into a new era I am delighted that we will move forward together.”

All the blackcurrants grown by Ribena’s growers in the UK are pressed at Myrtle Farm within 24 hours of harvest in July each year before being sent to Ribena’s plant in Coleford, in the Forest of Dean.  The growers work closely with the Ribena and Thatchers teams to ensure a smooth and integrated supply chain that results in the best quality blackcurrant juice for Ribena.

Thatchers Managing Director, Martin Thatcher, adds, “Ribena’s ethos of producing the highest quality juice from their fruit matches the approach we have always taken with our own apples. The principles are the same. This has led to a mutually beneficial partnership and a deep recognition of each other’s values. We’re delighted that we are able to continue working with the Ribena brand – we’re all looking forward to business as usual this harvest.”

Following the blackcurrant harvest, Thatchers continues into its own apple harvest season in September with upwards of 450 tonnes of fruit each day being pressed at the height of the season.

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For further information, contact:

Penny Adair, PR Manager, Tel: 0117 9040173