Employee killed after incident at soft drinks manufacturing site

Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, which uses the site to make and bottle Lucozade and Ribena soft drinks, confirmed in a statement that the employee passed away in hospital on 25 April 2024 following a “serious incident”​ in the warehouse at its Coleford manufacturing site on 22 April.

Carol Robert, the chief operating officer at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, said the firm was “deeply saddened”​ by the news.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) noted: “We are aware of an incident at the Lucozade Ribena Suntory Ltd factory in Coleford on 22 April 2024. Sadly, a 50-year-old man has died as a result of the injuries he sustained. We will now lead an investigation into what happened alongside Gloucestershire Police.”​

The man was airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol following the incident, but died as a result of the injuries he sustained.

Robert said that Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I was in close communication with the family of the employee involved.

“The whole business extends our sincere condolences at this extremely difficult time,” ​Robert continued.

“We are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation by the regulator. Given that it is very much a live investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment further.​

“Our thoughts remain with the family of our colleague, and we would also ask that their privacy is respected at this time.”​

In other news, Vegan Food Group CEO Dave Sparrow discusses the firm’s mission to lead the plant-based category and put an end to intensive farming practices.​​