Princes Group, a UK-based soft drinks manufacturer, has officially inaugurated four new production lines at its Bradford facility in England.
The Bradford site, which is Princes’ largest soft drinks production facility in the UK, has now fully operationalised its new lines as part of the £15m ($20.14m) partnership with Capri-Sun, which is known for children's beverages.
This strategic alliance, which began in April 2024, aims to produce over 250 million Capri-Sun juice pouches annually and is seen as a significant step towards sustainable packaging.
The partnership has already had a positive impact on the local economy, creating 50 new jobs in anticipation of the increased demand.
Production commenced in late 2024, with the site now boasting 12 active production lines, catering to a variety of soft drink products such as dilutes, carbonates, and ready-to-drink offerings.
As part of the transition, Capri-Sun has introduced new lightweight monomaterial drink pouches, which reportedly boast the lowest carbon dioxide footprint among beverage containers globally.
Additionally, the site has implemented tethered caps on 330ml pouches, reducing packaging waste by 14%, aligning with the goal of establishing Capri-Sun as a sustainable children's soft drinks brand in the UK.
The launch event was attended by Princes CEO Simon Harrison and Capri-Sun CEO Roland Weening, who provided tours of the facility.
The new production includes classic Capri-Sun flavours alongside products such as Cola Zero and Monster Alarm Zero, with the Bradford site being the first globally to produce these new flavours.
Capri Sun group supply chain vice-president Stefan Seiss said: “This collaboration represents a significant step in meeting growing demand in the UK market.
"The transition of production lines to Bradford reflects the successful cooperation between supply chain and engineering teams from both companies, ensuring a top-tier production setup to support Capri-Sun’s expansion in the UK."
Princes aims to achieve a significant 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2032, a testament to the partnership's potential to drive substantial improvements across the sector.
Princes drinks group commercial director Andy Hargraves said: “We are thrilled to make Bradford the UK home for Capri-Sun pouches, a testament to our commitment to product innovation and operational excellence.
"This partnership not only creates new jobs but also aligns with our sustainability goals, leveraging our expertise to meet evolving consumer demands."
