Ribena Maker Funds Hardier Blackcurrants After Bad Weather Shrinks Crop

Bad weather cut the 2026 UK blackcurrant harvest to about 9,000 tonnes — 10% below average. Since 95% of UK blackcurrants go into Ribena, owner Suntory Beverage & Food faces a supply squeeze. It is funding £200,000 in soil health research and £920,000 over five years to breed blackcurrant plants that can better withstand climate shifts.