Nichols PLC

Name

Nichols PLC

Legal name

Nichols PLC

Website

https://www.nicholsplc.co.uk

Company type

Public

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Soft Drinks

NAICS

Soft Drink Manufacturing (312111), Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing (31211), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Non-Carbonated Soft Drinks (Juice Drinks, Lemonades, Fruit Drinks) (CRADAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Soft Drink & Carbonated Beverage Syrups (AFAFAGAA), Still Soft Drinks & Flavored Waters (Non-Carbonated) (AFAFABAB)

Keywords

• Soft drinks manufacturing
• Branded beverage portfolio
• Consumer beverage products
• Retail beverage distribution
• Flavoured soft drinks

Headquarters

HQ city

Newton-le-willows

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Soft Drinks Sales: Nichols generates revenue through the sale of soft drinks across multiple categories including squash, flavoured carbonates, fruit drinks, energy drinks, and flavoured water. The company operates through three routes to market: UK Packaged (retail), International Packaged (export markets), and Out of Home (hospitality).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nichols PLC is a diversified soft drinks group that supplies branded beverages (primarily Vimto, alongside Levi Roots, SLUSH PUPPiE, ICEE, Starslush, Sunkist and Feel Good) across three routes to market: UK Packaged, International Packaged, and Out of Home. The company operates an asset-light model with outsourced production, selling finished soft drinks products in formats such as squash, carbonates, still drinks, energy drinks, frozen beverages, and slush products.

Product overview

Nichols PLC is a diversified soft drinks Group operating an asset-light business model with three routes to market: UK Packaged, International Packaged, and Out of Home. The company's product portfolio centers on owned and licensed beverage brands, primarily the iconic Vimto brand (squash, carbonates, still drinks, and energy variants) which is sold in over 60 countries with strong presence in UK, Middle East, and Africa. Additional owned brands include ICEE, SLUSH PUPPiE, and Starslush operating through the Out of Home channel, while licensed brands Levi Roots and Sunkist round out the portfolio. Products are distributed through retailers and out-of-home venues globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vimto: The iconic flagship brand of Nichols, popular in UK and internationally, particularly in Middle East and Africa
• Vimto Zero
• Vimto Remix
• Levi Roots
• Levi Roots Energy
• SLUSH PUPPiE
• SLUSH PUPPiE FIZZiE
• ICEE
• Starslush
• Sunkist
• Feel Good
• Vimto Energy

Products and services

• Vimto Iconic soft drinks brand offering squash, carbonates, still drinks, and energy variants. Sold in over 60 countries worldwide with particularly strong presence in UK, Middle East, and Africa markets. Targeted at consumers seeking refreshing mainstream beverages.
• Vimto Energy Energy drinks sub-brand within the Vimto portfolio featuring zero sugar, natural caffeine, real fruit juice, and vitamins B6 & B12. Targeted at adult consumers seeking healthier energy drink options.
• Vimto Energy Tropical Cooler 500ml canned energy drink with tropical flavor containing Vitamins B6 & B12, zero sugar, natural caffeine, and real fruit juice. Targeted at adult consumers through convenience and wholesale channels.
• Vimto Remix Vimto Remix range offering flavor-packed choice in ready to drink, squash and carbonated formats including Orange, Strawberry and Lime. No added sugar and fortified with Vitamin C.
• Vimto Winter Warmer Limited-edition seasonal squash product designed to be enjoyed hot, featuring cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove infused into Vimto's recipe. No added sugar, real fruit content, added vitamin C.
• Vimto Zero Cordial (Middle East) Sugar-free cordial variant of Vimto launched in the Middle East market in partnership with Aujan Coca-Cola Beverages Company for Ramadan. Targeted at health-conscious consumers in the region.
• Vimto Fans' Edition Limited-edition co-created Vimto range featuring two flavors (Pina Guava Pineapple & Guava; Sunset Papaya-dise Orange & Papaya) developed through consumer voting on flavors and pack designs. Available in 500ml PMP and 2L formats.
• Levi Roots Caribbean-flavored soft drinks brand featuring unique tropical fruit blends including Jamaican Sunset, Caribbean Crush, and Tropical Punch. Available in carbonates and energy variants with 500ml PET and can formats.
• Levi Roots Energy Energy drink line under Levi Roots brand featuring Caribbean flavors (Caribbean Crush with hint of ginger; Jamaican Sunset with pinch of chilli). Contains natural caffeine, B6 and B12 fortification. Available in 500ml can format.
• Levi Roots Reggae Sunrise Levi Roots Reggae Sunrise blends passion fruit with papaya and citrus (carbonates) or turmeric (energy). Available in 500ml PET PMP formats. Backed by multi-city sampling campaign 'Awaken the Nation'.
• SLUSH PUPPiE Frozen iced slush brand with FIZZiE carbonated line. Includes zero sugar options made with natural flavors. Operates through the Out of Home route to market in venues popular with families.
• SLUSH PUPPiE FIZZiE Green Apple New zero sugar SLUSH PUPPiE FIZZiE flavor in Green Apple, made with natural flavors. Available in 500ml with £1 price-marked pack and 2L formats. Targeted at families and children.
• ICEE Global frozen beverage brand operating through the Out of Home route to market in hospitality and leisure venues.
• Starslush Iced slush product brand operating through the Out of Home channel. Reformulated to remove glycerol following FSA industry guidance for safety in venues popular with young children.
• Sunkist Licensed fruit-flavored citrus-based soft drink brand distributed by Nichols PLC.
• Feel Good Acquired soft drinks brand retained by Nichols PLC in its portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Vimto achieved record retail sales value of £129.1m in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aujan Coca-Cola Beverages CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 March 2023Long-standing partnership with Aujan Coca-Cola Beverages Company in the Middle East for Vimto distribution. The partnership successfully launched Vimto Zero cordial, expanding the no-added sugar product range in the region.
• Manchester ThunderminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2022Strategic partnership to create the first VNSL franchise led ParaNetball club, focusing on raising the profile of the sport and creating an inclusive environment for deaf and disabled young people.
• Green ElementminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Carbon experts who facilitated Nichols' Net Zero roadmap development process, including an off-site day for the cross-functional team to co-create decarbonization ideas.
• AsdacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2020Partnership with Asda for Vimto Refill Station in their sustainable store concept in Middleton, Leeds. Shoppers can purchase reusable bottles to fill with Vimto cordial, supporting sustainability goals.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Cott Corporation: Beverage solutions provider producing private-label and branded soft drinks across multiple categories. Comparable as a contract manufacturer and brand operator in the non-alcoholic beverage space, particularly relevant given Nichols' asset-light outsourced production model.
• Cawston Press: UK-based premium soft drinks and juice brand. Comparable as a smaller branded soft drinks competitor in UK retail, particularly in the juice and still drinks categories where Vimto competes.

Broad incumbents

• Refresco Group: Global independent bottler producing private-label and branded soft drinks and juices for retailers and brand owners. Comparable as an outsourced production partner model competitor and as a European non-alcoholic beverage manufacturer.
• Monster Beverage Corporation: Pure-play global energy drinks company. Competes directly with Vimto Energy across multiple markets and channels, with deep distribution and aggressive marketing investment that sets the competitive bar in the category.
• Coca-Cola Europacific Partners: Large-scale bottler and distributor for Coca-Cola brands across Western Europe and Australia. Comparable as a major player in UK and European retail soft drinks, supplying the same grocery and convenience customers that Nichols serves.
• Red Bull GmbH: Global energy drinks incumbent and category-defining brand. Comparable as a competitor to Nichols' growing Vimto Energy range, particularly in convenience and on-trade channels where energy drinks compete for the same consumer occasions.

Direct peers

• Fever-Tree Drinks PLC: UK-listed premium mixer brand competing in the same UK retail and hospitality channels as Nichols. Comparable as a brand-led, asset-light soft drinks company targeting both grocery and on-trade customers.
• Britvic PLC: Direct UK-listed soft drinks peer (PepsiCo bottler in UK and Ireland) operating a similar branded soft drinks portfolio across carbonates, juices, squashes, and energy drinks, serving retail and hospitality channels. Highly comparable in scale, business model, and UK retail customer base.
• A.G. BARR plc: UK-listed branded soft drinks company best known for Irn-Bru, with a portfolio of carbonates, waters, and energy drinks (including Rubicon and Rockstar). Closely comparable to Nichols in asset-light brand-owner model and UK retail distribution focus.

Others

• Tate & Lyle PLC: UK-listed ingredients company with significant beverage and food formulation exposure. Comparable as a London-listed consumer goods company serving the soft drinks value chain, though positioned upstream as an ingredient supplier rather than a brand owner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nichols-plc
• Xx.com/nicholsplc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A8 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Nichols PLC