Besides saving more than a dozen jobs, the move will help Highland Spring to soon become the largest UK producer of bottled water by volume, with access to another five million litres every year from Speyside Glenlivet.
Speyside Glenlivet supplies premium bottled water to a range of outlets in the UK, France, Spain and Belgium, and has recently begun exporting to Japan, Dubai, Thailand and Hong Kong.
The company’s website highlights serving hotels such as the Balmoral in Edinburgh, the Dorchester in London, the Ritz in Paris, Imperial Hotel in Tokyo and the seven-star Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
The firm’s bottling operation will remain where it is because the water can only be bottled at source in the Crown Estate of Glenlivet, near Ballindalloch in Moray.
Les Montgomery, chief executive of Highland Spring, said: “We’re delighted to acquire another premium Scottish brand which complements our portfolio perfectly. It will also be another milestone in our company’s development, as we aim to take Highland Spring to the No 1 UK brand position over the next year or so.”
In 2006, the last year for which accounts were available, Speyside Glenlivet’s turnover was reported as £1.9m. Highland Spring reportedly produced 222 million litres of water in 2008 and turned over £51.4m in 2007.
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