A Blackburn drinks firm and a major national brewery have confirmed a new multi-million pound agreement, giving the premium drinks exporter exclusivity on the global distribution of Greene King products.

Greene King, which has been brewing for more than 200 years, is part of Sovereign Beverage Company’s premium portfolio of British beverage brands, including Thatchers Cider, Robinsons Brewery (Trooper by Iron Maiden), and Carlsberg Marston’s.

Sovereign, which has its head office based in Blackburn, has been working with Greene King for a number of years on a non-exclusive basis, and this latest agreement means it will now be managing the full portfolio worldwide, taking the final three markets in-house throughout the course of 2023.

The agreement represents significant growth for Sovereign Beverage Company, with a projected annual uplift of 20 per cent turnover.

Richard Honey, sales director off-trade, e-comm and export at Greene King, said: “We are delighted to have Sovereign as our exclusive distribution partner across all territories.

"Over the years Sovereign has provided an invaluable service to us helping us navigate the challenges of both Brexit and Covid.

"Their clear focus on customer service, improving efficiency and reducing complexity, makes them the ideal company for us to work with.”

First launched in 1799, Greene King is now the UK’s leading pub company and brewer with around 2,600 pubs, restaurants and hotels, including the Fernhurst in Bolton Road, Blackburn, and the Spread Eagle in Mellor.

It also has breweries in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and the Belhaven Brewery in Scotland, and its portfolio includes Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, and Abbot Ale.

David Davies, founder, and managing director of Sovereign Beverage Company, added: “We’re delighted to be adding the rest of the Greene King market to our portfolio of premium brands.

"We’ve already conducted two market visits in the USA, and China and France will follow later this year.”