Drinks brands up for grabs as FD Brands goes into receivership

Cockspur rum and other drinks brands were up for grabs after their UK supplier went into liquidation.

FD Brands ceased to trade two weeks ago after building up a portfolio of niche premium drinks, including beers, ciders, perries and spirits.

Tony Broom of accountancy giant BDO Stoy Hayward has been appointed liquidator to find buyers for the company's assets.

FD Brands, formerly Famous Drinks Brands, was formed in 1990 and was taken over by its management team in a buy-out three years ago.

It handled products for international drinks companies, including Shanghai bottled lager for the Shanghai Beer Company and Savuti bottled cider for South African wine and spirit producer Stellenbosch Farmers' Winery.

Its biggest coup was to take over the distribution and marketing rights to Cockspur golden rum from UDV two years ago.

It also developed its own branded range of schnapps, FD Schnapps, which was extended into peach, butterscotch, lemon, blackcurrant, melon and apple flavours.

Other products included Dutch energy drink Agwa, Special Red white cider and the perries San Spumari, Belnor, Tongham Ridge and Blue Bay.