Global Brands, an independent drinks business that owns brands such as Franklin & Sons, Hooch, and VK, saw double-digit turnover growth during its last financial year ending 30 September 2022, driven by record international growth, NPD launches, and strong canned cocktail and RTD sales.
The company’s turnover increased 26.6% to £84.4m, with operating profit rising from £6.1m to £6.9m.
The Derbyshire-based company is now the biggest supplier of branded canned cocktails to the UK off-trade and the biggest supplier of ready-to-drink products into the UK on-premises.
Global Brands also reported a 50% increase in international business. Having launched Franklin & Sons in the USA in 2019, just as the pandemic struck, the international arm of the business is now seeing significant growth, reaching £5m in turnover for the first time in the history of the business.
Steve Perez, Founder and Chairman at Global Brands, commented: “Global Brands, the UK’s leading independent drinks business, has had another fantastic year. 21/22 has been our sixth successive year of growth, almost doubling our turnover in the last five years.
“We’ve recently purchased the trademarks for Hooch, Hooper’s, and Reef from Molson Coors, and have lots of exciting new products in the pipeline. We’re now the biggest supplier of branded canned cocktails in the UK off-trade, and the biggest supplier of RTDs into the on-trade.
“Franklin & Sons is now the second biggest premium tonic in the UK on trade, and we’ve seen fantastic growth for the brand in the UK and especially internationally, in markets in Asia, through Europe, and from our newly opened office in the USA.
“We’re unique in that we create everything in-house, from design, marketing, and NPD through to the distribution of our brands from here in Chesterfield and Clay Cross – areas where we’ve invested just under £3m in the last year.
“While economic conditions have been challenging in the six months since we’ve published our accounts, especially in regard to energy and raw material costs, we’re confident going forward that the company will continue its momentum in the next financial year.”
Global Brands stated that it had started its new financial year in a strong position. Late last year saw the launch of premium tonics, sodas, and soft drinks brand Franklin & Sons into the US to further capitalise on international growth, while the company acquired the trademarks for Hooch, Hooper’s, and Reef from Molson Coors, investing in the brands with the security of owning the equity.
Alongside this, Global Brands has launched an all-new VK & SODA extension to VK brand. The new range is said to deliver on demand for zero-sugar and lower-calorie drinks.
A £2m expansion of the Global Brands Distribution Centre was also recently completed, increasing capacity from 30 million to 40 million products stored.
