Carlsberg Britvic

What Carlsberg Britvic does

Carlsberg Britvic is the UK operating entity formed in January 2025 when Carlsberg Group completed its acquisition of Britvic plc, combining the group's beer and cider operations with Britvic's soft drinks business under a single trading name. Headquartered in Wolverhampton with a registered office in Hemel Hempstead, the company employs approximately 4,000 people across the UK and produces 2.2 billion litres of beverage products annually at manufacturing sites in Leeds (opened 1975, producing 420 million+ bottles per year of Pepsi MAX, Tango, and 7UP) and Rugby (soft drinks canning facility producing 610,000 cans per hour following a £20m expansion announced in October 2025).

The portfolio spans 42 brands across beer (Carlsberg, 1664 Blanc, Birrificio Angelo Poretti, Tuborg, Somersby cider, Tetley's, Marston's, SKOL, Brooklyn Brewery), licensed PepsiCo soft drinks (Pepsi, Pepsi MAX, 7UP, Tango, Mountain Dew, Lipton Ice Tea, Gatorade), and owned brands (J2O, London Essence premium tonics, Plenish plant-based juices and protein, Rockstar energy, poppi modern soda, Robinsons Fruit Shoot, Aqua Libra, Purdey's, Ballygowan, R. White's). Proprietary technology is limited to consumer-facing formulation work, notably a patent-pending barista plant-based milk formulation under Plenish and clean-label pea protein powders launched in April 2026.

Revenue is generated through B2B sale of branded packaged beverages to UK retailers (Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose, Ocado, Morrisons, Amazon), foodservice operators (Pret a Manger), hospitality and stadium venues, and wholesale/convenience channels. Pricing spans premium tiers (London Essence at approximately £4 for six 150ml bottles) to value tiers (Rockstar 2 for £2 price-marked packs). Carlsberg Britvic is the exclusive UK bottling and distribution partner for PepsiCo brands under a long-standing agreement, a relationship recognised with PepsiCo's 2025 International Beverages Bottler of the Year award. The company is wholly owned by Carlsberg Group, the Danish brewer listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen.

Name

Carlsberg Britvic

Legal name

Carlsberg Britvic

Website

https://carlsbergbritvic.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Carlsberg Britvic is a UK multi-beverage company producing and distributing 42 beer, cider, and soft drink brands from four factories for retailers, hospitality venues, and consumers, operating as Carlsberg Group's UK arm and PepsiCo's UK bottling partner.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Beverages (Multi-Beverage Manufacturing and Distribution)

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (424810)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080), Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Alcoholic Beverage Contract Manufacturing / Co-packing (Brew, Distill, Bottle, Can) (CRADAIAI), Alcoholic Beverage Co-Packing (Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider) (AFAFAIAA), Alcoholic Beverage Mixers & Cocktail Ingredients Brands (Non-alcoholic) (CRADAIAH), Functional Beverages (Vitamins, Probiotics, Nootropics, etc.) (CRADAHAL), Beverage (Non-Alcoholic) Foodservice Distribution (CRAOABAJ)

Keywords

• Soft drinks manufacturing
• Beverage bottling
• Beer production
• Premium mixers
• Energy drinks distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Hemel Hempstead

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Soft drinks manufacturing and bottling: Production and distribution of branded soft drinks including Pepsi MAX, Tango, 7UP, and licensed PepsiCo brands. Operates as PepsiCo's UK bottling partner.
2. Beer and cider production: Brewing and distribution of branded beers including Carlsberg, 1664 Blanc, Birrificio Angelo Poretti, and regional UK ales
3. Owned premium brand portfolio: Direct sales of owned brands including Plenish, London Essence, J2O, Robinsons, and Rockstar Energy

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Carlsberg Britvic manufactures and distributes a 42-brand multi-beverage portfolio across beers, ciders, soft drinks, energy drinks, premium mixers, plant-based juices, and protein products across the UK. Operating as PepsiCo's exclusive UK bottling partner, the company produces approximately 2.2 billion litres annually across four factories, supplying UK retail, hospitality, foodservice, and stadium channels.

Product overview

Carlsberg Britvic is a multi-beverage company formed from the merger of Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company and Britvic in January 2025. The company operates as a unified UK business producing and distributing a portfolio of 42 brands spanning beers (including 1664 Blanc, Birrificio Angelo Poretti, Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, SKOL), ciders, and soft drinks (including Pepsi MAX, 7UP, Tango, J2O, London Essence Tonics, Rockstar Energy, Plenish, and poppi). The company produces approximately 2.2 billion litres annually across multiple manufacturing sites including factories in Leeds and Rugby, employing 4,000 people. Products range from premium alcoholic beverages to non-alcoholic options, juice shots, protein products, and mixers, serving both on-trade (hospitality) and off-trade (retail) channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 1664: French premium lager brand including 1664 Blanc
• Pepsi MAX
• 7UP
• Tango
• J2O
• London Essence
• Plenish
• Lipton
• Robinsons Fruit Shoot
• Rockstar
• Gatorade
• Birrificio Angelo Poretti
• Carlsberg
• Tetley's
• Marston's
• Somersby
• Purdey's
• Aqua Libra
• poppi
• Mountain Dew
• R. White's

Products and services

• Pepsi MAX Leading zero-calorie cola soft drink and one of Carlsberg Britvic's flagship brands distributed across the UK market via PepsiCo's UK bottling partnership.
• 1664 Blanc Premium French wheat beer with 5% ABV positioned as a premium lager offering in the Carlsberg Britvic portfolio.
• Birrificio Angelo Poretti Italian lager-style beer characterised by a fine and sticky head, using four varieties of hops for enhanced hoppy taste. Brewed in Valganna, Italy.
• J2O Fruit Blends Still fruit juice drinks blending two fruity flavours per bottle, available in Orange & Passion Fruit, Apple & Mango, Apple & Raspberry, Dragonberry, and Glitterberry varieties.
• London Essence Tonics Premium tonic waters crafted from distilled botanicals, including Original Indian, Blood Orange & Elderflower, and Grapefruit & Rosemary variants, plus newly launched zero-sugar and Riviera Mediterranean tonic varieties.
• Rockstar Energy Energy drink brand offering zero sugar variants and various flavours including Peach, targeting consumers seeking energy boosts, with festival-themed packaging tied to UK music festival partnerships.
• SKOL High-quality African lager brewed with fine ingredients to deliver a satisfying and refreshing taste.
• 7UP Lemon-lime flavoured soft drink brand in the Carlsberg Britvic portfolio, distributed via PepsiCo's UK bottling partnership.
• Tango Orange-flavoured soft drink brand part of the Carlsberg Britvic portfolio, produced at the Leeds and Rugby factories.
• Lipton Ice Tea Ready-to-drink iced tea brand distributed by Carlsberg Britvic in the UK market as part of the PepsiCo bottling partnership.
• Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flagship Danish pilsner beer from the Carlsberg brewing heritage, distributed through Carlsberg Britvic's UK operations.
• poppi Modern Soda Modern soda brand with functional benefits containing 3g of fibre per 330ml can, distributed in the UK by Carlsberg Britvic for PepsiCo under their bottling agreement. Five-flavour range including Strawberry Lemon, Orange, Raspberry Rose, Lemon Lime, and Wild Berry.
• Plenish Clean Protein Powders Clean-label plant-based pea protein powders containing 20g protein per serving with just seven naturally sourced ingredients and complete amino acid profile. Available in Madagascan Vanilla and Cocoa & Sea Salt variants. Targeted at health-conscious consumers and GLP-1 medication users.
• Plenish Barista Plant Milk Plenish Barista plant-based milk range using a patent-pending formulation without gums or acidity regulators to create stable, creamy milk suitable for coffee applications and latte art performance.
• Gatorade Sports drink brand distributed in the UK through Carlsberg Britvic under the PepsiCo bottling partnership.
• Mountain Dew Citrus-flavoured soft drink brand distributed in the UK through Carlsberg Britvic under the PepsiCo bottling partnership.

Quantifiable outcome

• Plenish achieved over 400% value sales growth in two years (NIQ data)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Birrificio Angelo PorettiminorOthers · 27 May 2026Italian beer brand being added to portfolio with alcohol-free variant at 0.5% ABV, targeting growth opportunity in alcohol-free category for retailers.
• Plenish brand (owned subsidiary)coreOthers · 13 April 2026Carlsberg Britvic-owned Plenish launched two clean-label pea protein powder products under Clean Protein line, targeting health-conscious consumers and GLP-1 medication users.
• Major UK retailerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 March 2026Distribution partnerships with Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Ocado, Amazon, and Morrisons for London Essence premium tonic waters at £4 for six 150ml bottles.
• London Essence (owned subsidiary)coreOthers · 12 March 2026Carlsberg Britvic-owned premium tonic water brand launching zero-sugar and Mediterranean-inspired variants to major UK retailers.
• PepsiCocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 March 2026UK bottling partnership where Carlsberg Britvic handles local production and distribution of PepsiCo brands including Poppi modern soda launch. Carlsberg Britvic acquired Britvic in January 2025 to form single UK business.
• Southampton Football ClubcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 February 2026Multi-year partnership making Pepsi MAX the Official Soft Drinks Partner across St Mary's Stadium, including naming rights for LEVEL1 hospitality area. Agreement covers exclusive supply rights, LED perimeter exposure, big screen advertising, and hospitality activations throughout the stadium.
• DS SmithcoreTechnology or Integration · 22 September 2025Sustainable packaging innovation partnership upgrading Carlsberg Britvic packaging to new Bag-in-Box design. New design allows 25% more boxes per pallet, reducing pallets, lorries, and carbon emissions by over 50 tonnes, while enhancing safety and storage efficiency.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nichols plc (Vimto): UK-listed soft drinks group behind Vimto, Squashies and Sunkist. Direct UK soft drinks peer with comparable route-to-market across grocery, convenience and foodservice.
• AG Barr: Scottish-based UK soft drinks manufacturer (Irn-Bru, Rubicon, Barr brands) competing directly with Carlsberg Britvic's soft drinks portfolio across UK retail and wholesale. Most direct UK-listed pure-play soft drinks peer.
• Refresco: European independent bottler and co-packer producing soft drinks and juices for retailers and brand owners. Directly comparable to Carlsberg Britvic's bottling, co-packing, and private-label beverage manufacturing operations.
• Coca-Cola Europacific Partners: Western European bottling partner for The Coca-Cola Company and a major UK soft drinks manufacturer/distributor. Direct peer in bottling operations and competing portfolio (Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, Schweppes).
• Fevertree Drinks: UK-listed premium tonic and mixer brand directly competing with Carlsberg Britvic's London Essence range in grocery, on-trade, and at-home cocktail occasions. Closest pure-play premium mixer peer.

Broad incumbents

• Diageo Great Britain: UK arm of global spirits giant Diageo. Broad incumbent in UK alcoholic beverages with overlapping premium on-trade distribution, and competing for the same at-home and out-of-home occasions.
• Molson Coors Beverage Company UK: UK operations of Molson Coors covering Carling, Coors, Doom Bar, Aspall and Staropramen. Direct competitor to Carlsberg Britvic's beer portfolio in UK on- and off-trade.
• Heineken UK: UK arm of Heineken N.V., one of the largest beer and cider producers in the UK. Competes with Carlsberg Britvic's beer portfolio across Heineken, Foster's, Strongbow, Bulmers and Birra Moretti.

Emerging players

• Innocent Drinks: Coca-Cola-owned UK smoothies, juices and plant-based drinks brand. Comparable to Carlsberg Britvic's Plenish brand in clean-label, health-conscious positioning, though Innocent is bigger and broader.
• Red Bull UK: UK subsidiary of Red Bull, dominant energy drink player competing head-to-head with Carlsberg Britvic's Rockstar brand across on-trade, convenience, and event sponsorship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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• Instagraminstagram.com/carlsbergbritvic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Carlsberg Britvic