Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I – the UK’s third largest soft drinks manufacturer behind Lucozade Energy, Lucozade Sport and Ribena – has appointed Metrostar as its licensing agency to manage brand extensions for its portfolio of drinks.
This will mark the first time that the brands have been available for licensing opportunities.
Lucozade Energy is the largest energy drink in the UK drinks sector with sales of over £300m. With a proposition of sustainable energy, Lucozade Energy is seeking partners in food, health and well-being and the lifestyle arenas.
Lucozade Sport, meanwhile, is the UK’s number one sports drink brand and defines the sector with over a 75% market share. It’s long association with sporting events and athletes offers up opportunities for companies in the active clothing, accessories, health, well-being and fitness spaces.
Finally, Ribena is a leading squash and ready-to-drink brand in the UK, generating over £80m+ per annum in sales. Metrostar is investigating food, sensory and lifestyle possibilities for the blackcurrant squash.
“Iconic is an over-used term but these brands need no introduction and as such are very promising propositions for licensing,” commented Claire Potter, md at Metrostar. “As well as strong functional attributes transferable to products, food and health, they have a wealth of imagery and assets which will work superbly well in lifestyle.”
Matt Riches, head of partnerships at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, added: “As a leading soft drinks company Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I is always looking to create extra value through our popular brands. We’re excited about unlocking innovative opportunities in new categories.”
Metrostar will introduce Suntory and its brands to licensing at Brand Licensing Europe (20-22 September) at stand C251.
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