Four new lines at the Bradford production facility of Princes Group, a leading manufacturer in the UK soft drinks sector, have now been officially opened, following the announcement of a £15 million partnership last year with Capri-Sun, a global leader in children’s beverages.
This partnership, celebrated at a grand opening event at Princes’ Bradford facility, begins with an agreement to produce over 250 million Capri-Sun juice pouches annually.
In anticipation of increased demand, the partnership has resulted in the creation of 50 new jobs in the area. Production began in autumn 2024, and all lines are now fully operational.
The Bradford site is Princes Group’s largest soft drinks production site in the UK and is recognised as a centre of excellence with twelve production lines now operational. It caters to a diverse range of products, including dilutes, carbonates, and ready-to-drink offerings.
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The site is leading the way in recyclable packaging innovations. Capri-Sun has introduced lightweight monomaterial drink pouches with the lowest CO₂ footprint among all beverage containers in the world, along with tethered caps on 330ml pouches that reduce packaging waste by 14% – all supporting its goal to become a sustainable children’s soft drinks brand in the UK.
Guests, including Simon Harrison, CEO Princes Ltd and Roland Weening, CEO of Capri-Sun at the launch event were given exclusive tours and insights into the facility’s operations, underscoring the strategic importance of this partnership. The day also included a ribbon cutting ceremony with the two CEOs. Production includes classic Capri-Sun product lines and new offerings like Cola Zero, the first site to produce this flavour globally, and Monster Alarm Zero.
Andy Hargraves, group commercial director for drinks at Princes, said: “We are thrilled to make Bradford the UK home for Capri-Sun pouches, a testament to our commitment to product innovation and operational excellence. This partnership not only creates new jobs but also aligns with our sustainability goals, leveraging our expertise to meet evolving consumer demands.”
Stefan Seiss, VP group supply chain at Capri Sun added, “This collaboration represents a significant step in meeting growing demand in the UK market. The transition of production lines to Bradford reflects the successful cooperation between supply chain and engineering teams from both companies, ensuring a top-tier production setup to support Capri-Sun’s expansion in the UK.”
This collaboration will aid Capri-Sun’s leadership in flavour innovation and commitment to sustainable practices, while also demonstrating Princes Group’s dedication to excellence in manufacturing and robust ESG initiatives. Notably, Princes aims to achieve a significant 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2032.
