£2.1m payday

SOFT drinks maker Britvic paid its chief executive £ 2.1m last year despite its profits sliding by 9pc.

Simon Litherland, a 53-year-old father of twins, received a 19pc pay rise after Britvic blamed its profit decline on its struggling drinks brands Robinsons and Fruit Shoot.

Boss since 2013, he also sits on the board of housebuilder Persimmon. He was managing director at Britvic, and spent 20 years at Diageo.

His rise comes after he warned of the impact a fizzy drinks tax could have next year.

Despite a profits drop, an overhaul of R White’s lemonade and demand for sugar-free Pepsi lifted sales in the UK by 3.7pc to £617.8m in the year to October.