Historic London soft drinks brand partners with alcohol firm

Alcohol brand Distil Plc has announced a new collaboration with a London-based soft drinks specialist that dates back to the Victorian era.

Soft drinks, tonic and mixers producer Franklin & Sons has partnered with the spirits firm, pairing its 1886 Cola product with Distil’s RedLeg Spiced Rum to create a new ready-to-drink product.

Originally founded by the Franklin Brothers in London in 1886, the Franklin & Sons brand was relaunched in 2016 and is owned by Global Brands Ltd.

The partnership will see the new drink stocked by a national retailer, with Distil hoping to build on its previous success in the pre-mixed spirit and mixer cans market - which grew value sales by 30 per cent in the year up to July 2019.

Don Goulding, Distil Plc executive chairman, commented: “This new in-market brand collaboration sees RedLeg Spiced Rum continue to innovate and introduce new consumers to the brand through flavour, packaging and format development.

“It provides consumers with a perfect RedLeg Spiced Rum and 1886 Cola on the go, without compromising on taste.

“Global Brands will handle distribution for this particular product; the remainder of our portfolio distribution is unchanged. We are delighted to enter this fast-growing category.”