Nichols has agreed to acquire 100% of the issued share capital of the Irish functional drinks brand, VITHIT, for £64m.

The British soft drinks group said that VITHIT is an "excellent strategic fit", given its "leading market positions in a structurally attractive soft drinks sub-category".

The Irish firm’s products offer 100% of the recommended daily allowance of eight essential vitamins through a portfolio that spans bottled ready-to-drink beverages.

In the year to 31 December 2025, VITHIT generated €26.5m in revenue and profit before tax of €4.1m.

Nichols said VITHIT will provide it with a strengthened position within the growing health and wellness segment of the soft drinks market, a leading brand with market positions in the UK and Ireland, and "meaningful opportunities to accelerate VITHIT’s current sales growth" by leveraging Nichols’ distribution capabilities and brand-building expertise.

It added that the acquisition is expected to be "immediately earnings enhancing”, while generating returns in excess of the group’s cost of capital.

CEO at Nichols, Andrew Milne, said: "We are delighted to announce the acquisition of VITHIT - an outstanding brand with a differentiated product operating in a rapidly growing soft drinks category. With its established market position, alignment with our asset-light operating model, proven profitability and significant headroom for growth, VITHIT perfectly fits the acquisition profile we have been looking for and is fully aligned with our long-term growth strategy.

"The brand has built strong market positions in both the UK and Ireland, supported by a differentiated consumer proposition, high levels of customer loyalty and - above all - a great tasting portfolio of functional soft drinks. Nichols is ideally placed to accelerate VITHIT's development through our commercial capabilities, customer relationships, route-to-market expertise and international infrastructure. A significant opportunity exists to expand distribution across the group's existing customer base."

Founder at VITHIT, Gary Lavin, concluded: "Since launching VITHIT more than twenty-five years ago, our ambition has always been to build a distinctive health and wellness drinks brand with broad consumer appeal. We are proud of what the team has achieved and consider Nichols the ideal partner to support the next stage of the brand's development.

"Nichols brings proven brand-building expertise, strong customer relationships and significant commercial capabilities, while sharing our long-term approach to growth. We are excited about the opportunities this creates for VITHIT, its colleagues, customers and consumers."

---