Drinks group Britvic Ireland has said it is planning a number of cost-cutting measures, including a reduction in staffing numbers, as it continues to deal with a difficult trading environment.
The company briefed staff on its plans earlier today, though a figure has not yet been given on the size of the workforce reduction sought.
Britvic announced plans to shed 100 positions early last year, however the size of the latest reduction is understood to be considerably lower than this.
In a statement the company said the measures were designed to restore competitiveness against the backdrop of a market “undergoing a structural shift and sustained revenue contraction.”
However the company also said it remains fully committed to the Irish market and continues to manufacture the vast majority of the soft drinks it sells in Ireland.
At the end of January the group reported a 10% decline in revenue in its latest quarter, compared with the same period a year earlier.
At the time Britvic said half of the revenue decline was due to third-party brands, largely alcohol, which the company distributes through the licensed wholesale business.
Britvic brands include Robinsons, Tango and MiWadi as well as PepsiCo brands such as Pepsi, 7Up and Mountain Dew Energy, which Britvic produces and sells in Britain and Ireland under exclusive agreements.
