Global Brands

What Global Brands does

Global Brands is an independent UK-based drinks producer and distributor, founded in 1997 by Steve Perez and headquartered in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, with over 200 staff. The company operates as a brand house rather than a single-product company, owning, marketing, and distributing 15 brands across RTDs, premium mixers, spirits, beer, cider, and super-premium canned cocktails. Flagship brands include VK (UK's No.1 student RTD for over 10 years), Hooch (30-year heritage alcoholic lemonade relaunched in 2025 with a £1.8m campaign), Franklin & Sons (premium mixers established 1886, acquired 2015), Reef (first UK alcoholic RTD in Tetra Pak packaging, +207% off-trade growth), GATHER Gourmet Cocktails (super-premium 12-14.9% ABV cans, 2024 launch), TAKE Tequila Blanco, and the recently acquired Skinny Brands (low-calorie, gluten-free beer and cider, 2026). The company also distributes third-party brands including American Beverage Marketers' portfolio (7.8 million 12-litre cases annually), Shanky's Whip, and RedLeg Rum. Products reach consumers through major UK supermarkets (Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons, Co-op, Iceland, B&M), on-trade venues (1,400+ pubs and bars for Hooch alone), the proprietary Good Time In e-commerce platform (launched 2020), and a distribution network spanning 67 countries. Recent strategic emphasis is on international expansion into Europe, Asia, and the US, alongside category extensions into high-ABV RTDs (Quadz), no/low alcohol (VK 0.0%), and health-conscious options. The company has received the King's Award for Enterprise: International Trade (2024) and the IWSC 2024 Mixer Producer Trophy.

Name

Global Brands

Legal name

Global Brands Ltd

Website

https://globalbrands.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Global Brands is an independent UK drinks producer and distributor with a 15-brand portfolio spanning RTDs, premium mixers, spirits, beer, and canned cocktails, sold in 67 countries through UK supermarkets, on-trade venues, D2C e-commerce, and international distribution partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alcoholic Beverages

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Alcoholic Beverage Brand Owners & Holding Companies (Multi-category Portfolios) (CRADAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alcohol Importers & Brand Owners (Wholesale) (CRAOAIAB), Beverage Import/Export & Cross-Border Wholesale (AFAIAGAL)

Keywords

• Ready-to-drink beverages
• Premium mixers
• Spirits production
• Craft soft drinks
• Alcoholic drinks distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Chesterfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Owned Brand Sales: Global Brands generates revenue through owned brands including VK, Hooch, Franklin & Sons, Reef, All Shook Up, Skinny Brands, TAKE Tequila, and others sold through retail, on-trade, and direct-to-consumer channels.
2. Third-Party Distribution: Distribution of third-party brands in the UK including American Beverage Marketers Inc (ABM) brands, Shanky's Whip, RedLeg Rum, and others through the company's extensive UK distribution network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Global Brands is an independent UK-based drinks producer and distributor that owns, markets, and distributes a portfolio of 15 alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage brands across RTD cocktails, premium mixers, spirits, beer and cider, and craft soft drinks. The company's portfolio includes flagship brands VK, Hooch, Franklin & Sons, Reef, All Shook Up, GATHER, Take Tequila, Skinny Brands, and others, sold through UK supermarkets, on-trade venues, wholesale channels, and international distributor partnerships across 67 countries, with direct-to-consumer sales via the Good Time In e-commerce platform.

Product overview

Global Brands is a UK-based independent drinks producer and distributor founded in 1997, operating as a collection of iconic brands rather than a single unified platform. The portfolio spans multiple categories including RTD (ready-to-drink) beverages, premium mixers and soft drinks, spirits, beer and cider. Key brands include VK and Hooch (flagship RTD brands), Franklin & Sons (premium mixers since 1886), Reef and All Shook Up (RTD cocktails), Take Tequila (spirits), and GATHER (super-premium canned cocktails). The company also acquired Skinny Brands (low-calorie beer/cider) in 2025 and distributes third-party brands including Shanky's Whip and American Beverage Marketers products. Products are sold through retail partners, on-trade venues, and the direct-to-consumer Good Time In e-commerce platform. With 15 brands sold in 67 countries, Global Brands positions itself as the UK's leading independent drinks company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VK: RTD brand, UK No.1 RTD for students for over 10 years
• Hooch
• Franklin & Sons
• Reef
• All Shook Up
• Take Tequila
• Corkys
• Lustre
• Hoopers
• GATHER
• Nottari Sambuca
• Skinny Brands
• Shanky's Whip
• GATHER Gourmet Cocktails
• RedLeg Spiced Rum

Products and services

• VK Iconic ready-to-drink (RTD) brand offering flavoured vodka-based alcoholic drinks for social and party occasions, targeted at the UK student and young adult market.
• Hooch Iconic alcoholic lemonade RTD brand with 30+ year heritage, made with triple-distilled vodka and featuring a signature fizz formula; available in 440ml cans and 70cl bottles.
• Franklin & Sons Premium mixer and craft soft drink brand founded in 1886, using only natural ingredients across tonics, sodas, ginger beer, and canned soft drinks; distributed in the UK and internationally (including the US).
• Reef Nostalgic alcoholic fruit drink RTD at 3.4% ABV; first UK alcoholic RTD in 100% recyclable resealable Tetra Pak packaging (330ml).
• All Shook Up Ready-to-drink cocktail brand offering accessible pre-mixed cocktails in the UK off-trade convenience and grocery channels.
• GATHER Gourmet Cocktails Super-premium canned cocktail range launched in October 2024; five flavours in 150ml cans at 12-14.9% ABV, RRP £3.50 per can. Award-winning design (Grocer NPD & Packaging Awards Label & Pack Design of the Year – Drinks Champion 2025).
• Take Tequila Premium tequila brand with Blanco expression (38% ABV, 100% Blue Weber agave, double-distilled in Jalisco, Mexico) plus flavoured tequila liqueurs (Jalapeño, Pink Grapefruit, Pineapple).
• Corkys RTD brand in the Global Brands portfolio, part of the 15 brands sold in 67 countries.
• Lustre RTD brand in the Global Brands portfolio, part of the 15 brands sold in 67 countries.
• Hoopers RTD brand in the Global Brands portfolio, acquired in 2023.
• Skinny Brands Low-calorie, gluten-free beer and cider brand including Skinny Lager, Skinny IPA, and Skinny Fruit Cider, acquired in 2026 to target health-conscious consumers.
• Nottari Sambuca Italian sambuca liqueur brand with two variants: Nottari Bianca (crystal clear, aromatic) and Nottari Nero (deep, rich licorice intensity), both 38% ABV.
• ASUKI Japanese-inspired liqueur created for modern aperitivo moments, with two 17% ABV variants including Yuzu.
• Quadz High-ABV pre-drinking RTD cocktail containing four shots of vodka in a 200ml resealable bottle, in four flavours, at RRP £4.99.
• Peach Hooch 3.4% ABV vodka-based peach-flavoured RTD extension of the Hooch brand, available in 12-pack 440ml cans, 24-pack 440ml cans, and 6-pack 70cl bottles.
• Good Time In E-commerce Platform Direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform (goodtimein.co.uk) launched in August 2020, selling Global Brands' portfolio directly to UK consumers from the company warehouse.
• Masons of Yorkshire x Franklin & Sons RTD Range Collaborative premium 250ml RTD can range pairing Masons of Yorkshire spirits (gin, vodka) with Franklin & Sons mixers, in two variants, sold in 12-pack format at RRP £21.50.
• Shanky's Whip (UK Distribution) Third-party distributed Irish liqueur and whiskey blend brand, distributed by Global Brands across the UK in on-trade, off-trade, online, and cash & carry channels.
• American Beverage Marketers (ABM) UK Distribution Portfolio Third-party UK distribution of the American Beverage Marketers (ABM) portfolio of cocktail and mixer brands including Finest Call, Re'al Infused Exotics, Master of Mixes, and Agalima Organic.
• VK 0.0% First alcohol-free variant of the VK RTD brand, entering the low/no-alcohol category.

Quantifiable outcome

• VK export sales up 20% in the moving annual total to April 2025
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Halewood International: Independent UK-based multi-category alcoholic drinks group owning Crabbie's, Whitley Neill, Lambrini and other RTDs. Closely matches Global Brands on acquirer-of-niche-brands model, UK focus and on-trade strategy.
• Mark Anthony Brands International: Owner of White Claw, Mike's Hard Lemonade and other RTD alcopop brands; the most globally relevant peer for Global Brands' Hooch/VK/Reef RTD franchise and high-ABV pocket.
• AG Barr: UK-listed independent drinks maker behind Rubicon, Snapchill wine and other branded soft/alcoholic lines operating through grocery and convenience channels, structurally comparable to Global Brands' UK off-trade proposition.
• C&C Group plc: Listed UK/Ireland independent drinks group (Bulmers, Tennent's, Matthew Clark wholesale) operating owned-brand and distribution model across beer, cider and mixers — directly analogous to Global Brands' portfolio/wholesale strategy.
• Mast-Jägermeister SE: Privately-held independent family spirits group with global distribution and an on-trade-led brand-building model; mirrors Global Brands' private, founder-influenced structure and brand-led international growth path.
• Fever-Tree Drinks: UK-listed premium mixer specialist whose tonic and mixer range competes head-to-head with Franklin & Sons in both UK grocery and international on-trade. Closest like-for-like on the premium mixer leg of Global Brands' portfolio.
• Stock Spirits Group: Central European spirits owner-distributor (Stock, Božkov, Limoncè) selling branded spirits across multiple European markets through grocery and on-trade; comparable multi-brand, multi-country go-to-market model.

Broad incumbents

• Asahi UK: UK arm of Asahi Group owning Peroni, Asahi and Strongbow cider plus a growing RTD portfolio; a relevant broad incumbent for both the on-trade and packaged RTD dimensions of Global Brands' portfolio.
• Diageo plc: World's largest spirits group, owner of Smirnoff, Gordon's and Gordon's Pink — the direct incumbent competitor in the vodka-RTD and pre-mixed category that hosts VK and Hooch.
• Britvic plc: UK-listed soft drinks and mixer manufacturer (Pepsi license, J2O, Robinsons) competing with Franklin & Sons and the wider premium/soft drinks business of Global Brands in UK grocery and on-trade.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-brands-limited
• Xx.com/globalbrandsltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Brands