Tibbett & Britten wins Virgin cola distribution
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Tibbett & Britten is preparing to launch itself into distributing up to a billion extra cans of cola a year after securing the contract for Richard Branson's new drink.
The contract begins by the end of next month and involves delivering the product from Cott Europe's soft drinks factory at Pontefract in West Yorkshire.
Tibbett & Britten already distributes up to a billion cans a year from the Cott's factory, including large volumes of Sainsbury's own-brand cola.
In the first six months the Virgin Cola Company—a joint venture between Virgin and the soft drinks maker Cott Corporation of Toronto—will sell its cola solely to Tesco and small independent retailers.
That will put Tibbett & Britten in the position of working out of one factory site for the two fiercely competitive supermarket rivals.
Virgin's decision will disappoint those hauliers who had hoped the contract was still wide open.
Cumbrian haulier John Dee was among those preparing to contact the company. It carries mineral water bottled by Benjamin Shaw, which is part owned by Cott.