Who owns Ribena?
Ribena is owned by Suntory (Japan), which has owned the brand since 31 December 2013.[1] Ribena was founded in 1938 in the United Kingdom and was independent until 2013.
This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.
Key facts
- Current owner
- Suntory Holdings Limited reported
- Owned since
- Previous owner
- Independent (1938–2013)
- Owner HQ
- 🇯🇵 Japan, Osaka
- Origin
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Founded
- 1938
- Category
- Beverages › Soft drinks › Juice & juice drinks
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About Ribena
Ribena is a blackcurrant cordial developed in 1938 at the University of Bristol, and during the Second World War the British government distributed it free to children because citrus imports had stopped and blackcurrants are exceptionally high in vitamin C. Suntory acquired it in 2013.
Ownership timeline of Ribena
Where Ribena sits in Suntory
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
Open the full Suntory ownership tree →
Other brands owned by Suntory in beverages
Latest news about Ribena
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Ribena?
The parent company of Ribena is Suntory, a privately held company headquartered in Japan.
Is Ribena British or Japanese?
Ribena originated in the United Kingdom in 1938, but it is owned today by Suntory, which is headquartered in Japan. So Ribena is a British-origin brand under Japanese ownership.
Since when has Suntory owned Ribena?
Suntory has owned Ribena since 31 December 2013.
Who owned Ribena before Suntory?
Ribena was an independent company from its founding in 1938 until Suntory acquired it in 2013.
Is Ribena still owned by Suntory?
Yes. As of 6 September 2026, Ribena is still owned by Suntory. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (1) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] Suntory Holdings — our brands — Suntory Holdings Limited, Official document; retrieved 6 September 2026.
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