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Dutch drinks group Refresco has divested bottled iced tea brand Beltè to Italian soft drinks maker Sibat Tomarchio.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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In a statement to Just Drinks, Claudio Ciavattini, managing director at Refresco’s Italian business, said the sale “aligns with our brand portfolio strategy”.
The transaction has not resulted in any job losses.
Refresco bought Beltè from San Pellegrino, part of Nestlé Group, in 2019.
The deal, which takes effect this month, includes Beltè’s trademark, brand and recipe, while production sites are excluded from the sale.
Under the agreement, Refresco will continue to produce a “significant portion” of Beltè products at its facilities in Italy.
“We remain focused on providing retailers and branded customers with beverage solutions, and following this transaction, we will continue to support the buyer through production services,” Ciavattini said.
The Dutch drinks group declined to confirm at which production sites the Beltè products are made.
In a separate post on LinkedIn, Sibat Tomarchio said the Beltè purchase “fits perfectly within our development strategy”.
According to the Italian soft drinks maker, the Beltè iced tea brand was first developed at a San Pellegrino facility in San Giorgio in Bosco in the Veneto region, and has established a “consolidated” presence in “large-scale” retail.
Its portfolio includes three core flavours – peach, lemon and green tea – alongside zero-sugar alternatives.
Beltè is mainly distributed in Italy, with some presence in Malta.
“Our goal is to relaunch it and build on the already strong brand awareness and image, transferring expertise and corporate culture, with an increasingly up-to-date offering that meets the needs of today’s consumers,” Sibat Tomarchio said in its statement.
According to the Italian daily news outlet Corriere della Sera, Sibat Tomarchio is controlled by the Busi family, which also owns Sibeg, an local Coca-Cola bottler in the country.
The Sicily-headquartered business produces a range of drinks brands, including the Deliziosa & Autentica and La Classica soft drinks lines and beer brand Birra 1920. According to its website, its products are sold locally and abroad.