New jobs for zero-sugar drinks firm

JOBS have been created at a North East soft drinks company which is taking advantage of consumer concern about sugary drinks.

Clearly Drinks, in Sunderland, has seen its workforce rise from 60 to 72 and the numbers of bottles produced growing from 52m to 69m bottles in the space of a year, after getting new warehousing and production facilities at its Riverside Road site.

The company produces Perfectly Clear, the UK’s top selling zerosugar naturally flavoured drink, as well as well-known brands including the 1870 mixers, Northumbria Spring and Perfectly Clear Kids.

It is now looking to launch new brands, building on increasing demand for zero-sugar drinks. Its Whisper range – which has only 10 calories per 500ml bottle and includes flavours like blood orange and peach, lemon and Mexican lime and mixed berry – launched in July.

The company, previously known as Villa Drinks and Contract Bottling, is one of a small number of UK bottling companies which has its own spring on site, the Hadrian Well.

It is now looking to invest £1.5m in equipment, including a bottle blower to blow pre-forms which will speed up the operation and reduce the company’s carbon footprint.

Sunderland City Council’s business investment team is advising Clearly Drinks on the latest investment, and the company’s major shareholders, NorthEdge, is backing the move.