Britvic buys blooming Orchid

Soft drinks manufacturer Britvic has bought Orchid Drinks, the fast-growing British producer of non-alcoholic tonics such as Purdey's and Aqua Libra.

Britvic - which is controlled by leisure group Bass - makes Tango and Robinson's, and distributes Pepsi and 7Up under licence in the UK.

Tango - one of Britvic's top brands

Other brands produced by Orchid include Amé, Norfolk Punch and Duchy Originals.

Bass did not disclose details of the deal, but analysts have put a price of about £20m on Orchid, which was founded in 1992.

Orchid said production would continue at its Hartlepool site.

Stephen Davies, Britvic's managing director, said: "This investment captures a portfolio of brands which, when combined with the existing brands of Tango, Robinson's and Pepsi, creates a choice for the consumer which is second to none within the UK's leading soft drinks companies."

Brewing sale

The deal comes a month after Bass announced the disposal of its brewing division for £2.3bn to Belgian drinks giant Interbrew.

Interbrew gained ownership of Bass's market-leading lager Carling, along with Worthington bitter, Bass Ale and Caffrey's.

Bass owns, operates or franchises about 2,900 hotels in more than 90 countries and about 3,000 pubs.

It also holds the controlling interest in Britvic, which it co-owns with Allied Domecq, Whitbread and Pepsico.