Blab Business
Radnor Hills Launches Canny Snacks to Expand Beyond Soft Drinks, Secures Burts Brand Rights
Radnor Hills, a Welsh soft‑drink manufacturer, has announced the creation of a new independent venture, Canny Snacks, to enter the UK snacking market. The company secured the sales, marketing and distribution rights for Burts Snacks, a long‑standing British crisps brand, as part of the launch that began on 1 June 2026.
Canny Snacks will operate as a standalone business led by co‑founder and director Tom Carne. The venture will receive commercial and operational support from Radnor Hills’ existing teams and will be guided by Radnor Hills’ founder and CEO William Watkins and former Yeo Valley CEO Adrian Carne. According to the company’s press release, the structure is designed to give the Burts brand focused investment and growth while preserving its heritage.
Burts Snacks, acquired by Europe Snacks in 2023, will remain manufactured in Plymouth by Europe Snacks, a European manufacturer with nine factories across the continent. Europe Snacks will continue to produce Burts crisps using the same sourcing and manufacturing processes that have defined the brand’s quality and authenticity. The transition does not alter the production location or the brand’s established supply chain.
The partnership is positioned as a complementary move for Radnor Hills. The company’s CEO said the venture “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.” The statement highlights Radnor Hills’ intent to leverage its existing distribution network and customer relationships to support Burts’ expansion.
Burts’ UK managing director, Rikin Lakhani, welcomed the collaboration, noting that the entrepreneurial drive of Canny Snacks combined with Radnor Hills’ expertise would create a “powerful platform to unlock new opportunities and take the Burts brand to the next level.” Burts has a strong heritage in the Southwest of England and won several awards in 2025, including Taste of the West Golds.
Canny Snacks’ strategy, as outlined in the launch announcement, focuses on bringing additional energy, focus and investment to the Burts brand. The company plans to drive innovation and future growth within the snacking category while maintaining continuity of service for existing customers. The transition process, which began on 1 June, is described as a smooth handover with no disruption to supply.
Industry observers note that Radnor Hills’ move into snacks follows a broader trend of beverage companies diversifying into complementary food categories. The partnership with Europe Snacks, known for private‑label production, provides Canny Snacks with a proven manufacturing partner that can scale production as demand grows.
The launch of Canny Snacks marks Radnor Hills’ first major venture outside its core drinks business. The company’s leadership has emphasized that the new venture will operate independently, allowing for focused decision‑making and investment in product development.
As the UK snacking market continues to expand, the collaboration between a soft‑drink manufacturer, a snack brand with deep regional roots, and a European production specialist positions Canny Snacks to capture a share of the growing consumer demand for convenient, high‑quality crisps.
The company’s next milestones will include the rollout of new product lines under the Burts brand, the expansion of distribution channels, and the measurement of market response. Radnor Hills and Canny Snacks have not yet disclosed specific financial targets or timelines for these initiatives.
In the coming months, stakeholders will watch how the partnership balances the preservation of Burts’ heritage with the introduction of new products and marketing strategies. The arrangement also illustrates how established manufacturers can collaborate to enter adjacent markets while maintaining brand integrity.
For now, the transition appears to be proceeding as planned, with Canny Snacks taking over sales and marketing responsibilities while Europe Snacks continues to produce the crisps in Plymouth. The partnership is expected to strengthen the Burts brand’s presence in the UK and potentially set a precedent for similar collaborations in the food and beverage sector.
Canny Snacks will operate as a standalone business led by co‑founder and director Tom Carne. The venture will receive commercial and operational support from Radnor Hills’ existing teams and will be guided by Radnor Hills’ founder and CEO William Watkins and former Yeo Valley CEO Adrian Carne. According to the company’s press release, the structure is designed to give the Burts brand focused investment and growth while preserving its heritage.
Burts Snacks, acquired by Europe Snacks in 2023, will remain manufactured in Plymouth by Europe Snacks, a European manufacturer with nine factories across the continent. Europe Snacks will continue to produce Burts crisps using the same sourcing and manufacturing processes that have defined the brand’s quality and authenticity. The transition does not alter the production location or the brand’s established supply chain.
The partnership is positioned as a complementary move for Radnor Hills. The company’s CEO said the venture “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.” The statement highlights Radnor Hills’ intent to leverage its existing distribution network and customer relationships to support Burts’ expansion.
Burts’ UK managing director, Rikin Lakhani, welcomed the collaboration, noting that the entrepreneurial drive of Canny Snacks combined with Radnor Hills’ expertise would create a “powerful platform to unlock new opportunities and take the Burts brand to the next level.” Burts has a strong heritage in the Southwest of England and won several awards in 2025, including Taste of the West Golds.
Canny Snacks’ strategy, as outlined in the launch announcement, focuses on bringing additional energy, focus and investment to the Burts brand. The company plans to drive innovation and future growth within the snacking category while maintaining continuity of service for existing customers. The transition process, which began on 1 June, is described as a smooth handover with no disruption to supply.
Industry observers note that Radnor Hills’ move into snacks follows a broader trend of beverage companies diversifying into complementary food categories. The partnership with Europe Snacks, known for private‑label production, provides Canny Snacks with a proven manufacturing partner that can scale production as demand grows.
The launch of Canny Snacks marks Radnor Hills’ first major venture outside its core drinks business. The company’s leadership has emphasized that the new venture will operate independently, allowing for focused decision‑making and investment in product development.
As the UK snacking market continues to expand, the collaboration between a soft‑drink manufacturer, a snack brand with deep regional roots, and a European production specialist positions Canny Snacks to capture a share of the growing consumer demand for convenient, high‑quality crisps.
The company’s next milestones will include the rollout of new product lines under the Burts brand, the expansion of distribution channels, and the measurement of market response. Radnor Hills and Canny Snacks have not yet disclosed specific financial targets or timelines for these initiatives.
In the coming months, stakeholders will watch how the partnership balances the preservation of Burts’ heritage with the introduction of new products and marketing strategies. The arrangement also illustrates how established manufacturers can collaborate to enter adjacent markets while maintaining brand integrity.
For now, the transition appears to be proceeding as planned, with Canny Snacks taking over sales and marketing responsibilities while Europe Snacks continues to produce the crisps in Plymouth. The partnership is expected to strengthen the Burts brand’s presence in the UK and potentially set a precedent for similar collaborations in the food and beverage sector.
