A LEDBURY company has seen a change in ownership that could see it raising a glass to future success.

Heineken now owns drinks industry production company Universal Beverages Limited (UBL) outright after buying shares from Q Holdings Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

Previously Heineken and Q Holdings owned 50 per cent each. UBL was set up two years ago as a joint venture between Q Group and Scottish and Newcastle UK, which is now part of Heineken.

“This structure provided the best possible expertise to ensure that a complex project to build the largest fruit processing facility in the UK, along with fermentation and packaging, was resourced effectively,” said operations director Chris Newall.

He added that UBL, based at Robertsons Business Park, was approaching the end of the second milling season and this demonstrated it had successfully completed its two-year development stage.

“As we move away from site development to focusing on day-to-day operations, we have taken time to review our structure and have agreed with Q Group that it is now appropriate for us to take UBL into full ownership,” said Mr Newall.

Mr Newall added that the company would remain a stand-alone business, providing services to drinks producers across the UK, including Heineken.

UBL combines modern fruit milling equipment with production, packaging and warehouse distribution services to the drinks industry.