Refresco, a leading independent beverage solutions provider for major brands and retailers globally, has announced the completion of its acquisition of VBC Bottling Company, a US-based contract manufacturer of premium beverages.

The strategic acquisition strengthens Refresco's foothold in North America, particularly on the US' West Coast.

VBC's well-established customer base, along with its conveniently located facility and warehousing capacity in Modesto, California, will significantly enhance Refresco's ability to serve its clients in the region.

VBC’s Modesto facility has more than 600,000ft² of manufacturing and warehouse space and is equipped to handle large-scale production in cold-filled canning, post-pasteurisation, and robotic variety packing.

“Acquiring VBC is another step in executing our proven Buy & Build strategy,” said Hans Roelofs, CEO of Refresco, in a statement.

“The company’s strong customer base, strategically located facility, and warehousing capacity further strengthens our footprint in North America. Additional canning capacity along the West Coast improves our ability to service all our contract manufacturing customers.”

Brad Goist, COO at Refresco North America, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the move as a step towards Refresco's vision of "Our drinks on every table."

“We will integrate VBC Bottling Company into our operations to better serve our customers and support their growth goals in the various categories where capacity is needed. I look forward to welcoming the more than 180 employees to the Refresco team and seeing what successes we accomplish together as a team and in the years to come,” said Goist.

Refresco offers a comprehensive range of product and packaging options, from juices to carbonated soft drinks and bottled water, in various formats, including cartons, polyethylene terephthalate bottles, cans, and glass.