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Welsh soft drinks manufacturer Radnor Hills has supported the creation of Canny Snacks, a newly formed, standalone business that has acquired the sales, marketing, and distribution rights for the savoury brand Burts Snacks.
The venture, which commenced a structured operational transition on 1 June 2026, represents Radnor Hills' first major diversification outside the beverage sector. By entering the adjacent savoury snacking market, the drinks manufacturer aims to leverage its established commercial infrastructure, logistics networks, and retail customer relationships to scale the Burts brand.
Snacking Diversification and Corporate Guidance
Canny Snacks will operate as an independent business entity. The venture is led by co-founder and director Tom Carne, supported by Radnor Hills' central commercial and operational divisions.
To guide its market integration, Canny Snacks has established an advisory team consisting of senior regional food and beverage executives:
William Watkins – Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Radnor Hills.
Adrian Carne – Former Chief Executive Officer of dairy brand Yeo Valley.
According to William Watkins, the launch of Canny Snacks provides Radnor Hills with an entry point into the fast-growing snacking market, utilising the logistics and retail relationships built through its core beverage operations. The expansion is structured to complement Radnor Hills' existing liquid portfolio by offering combined beverage and snacking solutions to retail and foodservice clients.
Burts Snacks Manufacturing and Operational Structure
Under the terms of the agreement, the ownership of the Burts brand and its physical production assets will remain unchanged.
Europe Snacks, which acquired Burts Snacks and its primary manufacturing facility in Plymouth in 2023, will continue to own the brand and operate the site. The multinational private-label and contract manufacturer, which operates nine factories across Europe, will serve as the exclusive manufacturing partner for the Burts product range.
This operational division allows Canny Snacks to focus entirely on brand development, sales, and marketing execution, while Europe Snacks maintains control over agricultural sourcing, processing efficiency, and quality control at the Plymouth site. The arrangement ensures that Burts' regional sourcing standards and traditional manufacturing processes remain intact.
Commercial Integration
The commercial transition is structured to maintain service continuity for existing retail, wholesale, and foodservice customers of Burts Snacks.
Tom Carne stated that the partnership is designed to build a scalable snacking business by combining the distinct strengths of Radnor Hills' logistics, Europe Snacks' manufacturing scale, and Canny Snacks' commercial focus.
The collaboration has also received backing from Burts' internal leadership. Rikin Lakhani, Managing Director of Burts UK, noted that combining Canny Snacks' dedicated commercial focus with Radnor Hills' established supply chain infrastructure provides a strong platform to expand the brand's footprint across national grocery and convenience channels.
