A Powys drinks firm has moved into the snacks market with the launch of a new business backed by its existing operations.

Radnor Hill has backed a new standalone venture, Canny Snacks, which will operate independently but draw on support from the company’s commercial and operational teams.

The new business will be led by Tom Carne and marks Radnor Hills’ first major move outside the soft drinks industry.

As part of its launch, Canny Snacks has secured the sales, marketing and distribution rights for Burts Snacks, a well-established British crisp brand with strong roots in the South West of England.

The manufacturing of Burts Snacks will remain in Plymouth with Europe Snacks, following its acquisition of the brand and production site in 2023. Europe Snacks operates multiple factories across Europe and will continue as the exclusive production partner.

Despite the changes, the company says continuity will be maintained throughout the transition, with production processes and sourcing remaining unchanged to preserve the brand’s quality and identity.

Canny Snacks will operate as a separate business entity, supported by Radnor Hills’ wider commercial infrastructure. It will also be guided by Radnor Hills founder and chief executive William Watkins, alongside Adrian Carne, former chief executive of Yeo Valley.

Radnor Hills said the move represents a significant step in its growth strategy beyond beverages, calling it an “exciting oppotunity” for the company.

Radnor Hills CEO William Watkins said: “Canny Snacks allows us to explore growth beyond drinks and into the fast-growing snacking market, building on the experience, infrastructure and relationships we already have at Radnor Hills.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Radnor Hills to expand into a category that naturally complements our core drinks business – after all, great drinks and great snacks are the perfect combination.”

Canny Snacks Ltd co-founder and director Tom Carne said: “We’re delighted to be launching this new partnership with securing the sales and marketing rights for Burts Snacks, with the transition taking place in the coming weeks.

“We see a huge opportunity to unlock the potential of the Burts brand and build a scalable snacking business. By combining the strengths of Radnor Hills, Europe Snacks and our wider partners, we are well placed to drive future growth through a collaborative approach.”

Burts UK MD Rikin Lakhani said: “We’re really excited about what this collaboration will bring. Canny Snacks’ entrepreneurial drive, combined with the expertise of Radnor Hills, creates a powerful platform to unlock new opportunities and take the Burts brand to the next level.”

Radnor Hills, based in Knighton with a second site in Pen-y-Cae in the south of the county, is one of the UK’s largest independently owned soft drinks manufacturers, producing more than 400 million drinks a year using Welsh spring water from local boreholes.

Radnor Hills says sustainability is central to its business, with a focus on sourcing ingredients and packaging locally to reduce its carbon footprint. All of its products are fully recyclable.

More information about Radnor Hills is available at: www.radnorhills.co.uk