Highland Spring acquires Speyside Glenlivet brand
Highland Spring has acquired The Speyside Glenlivet Water Company Limited, which went into administration earlier this month.
The Scottish bottled water brand has stepped in to safeguard the future of Speyside Glenlivet Natural Mineral Water which is bottled at source in the Crown Estate of Glenlivet, near Ballindalloch in Moray.
Highland Spring has bought the business for an undisclosed sum from Speyside Glenlivet Water Company Limited acting through its joint administrators Colin Murdoch and Donald McNaught of Invocas Business Recovery and Insolvency Limited. The business has continued to trade during the short period of administration.
The company employs 13 staff and markets the premium brand to fine dining establishments in the UK and overseas.
Since Speyside Glenlivet is a natural mineral water it can only be bottled at source at the existing plant therefore the bottling operation will stay where it is with Highland Spring taking over the management with immediate effect.
As a result of the acquisition the brand will benefit from 30 years of experience in the bottled water category which Highland Spring brings, Investment and development of the Speyside Glenlivet brand from the UK’s leading brand of bottled water and sales development opportunities through Highland Spring’s distribution network.
Les Montgomery, chief executive of Highland Spring Ltd commented: “There is strong demand for top quality glass brands of bottled water and we are committed to building the brand and growing the business through the investment, distribution and marketing opportunities that we bring to this business.
“Speyside Glenlivet has an excellent reputation at the top end of the market. The brand’s Scottish provenance and elegant design provides first rate marketing potential and I believe our expertise in the bottled water market will help us to develop Speyside Glenlivet into a valuable player in the category.
“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.”
Colin Murdoch, director of Invocas Business Recovery and Insolvency Ltd and joint administrator said: “This is an excellent outcome for Speyside Glenlivet which is an established quality Scottish brand and it includes the transfer of the full workforce. The business is now in the expert hands of Highland Spring which will afford the brand and the business the best possible opportunities for new success. I would also like to thank Moray Council and the Crown Estates Commissioners and Richard Lochhead MSP for their considerable support and assistance over the administration period and in concluding this transaction.”