A Liverpool city region family firm that manufactures, packages, and distributes hot and cold drinks for big brands such as Mars reports big rises in sales and profits, earning a £14.5m dividends windfall for its owners. Tony McDonough reports

Merseyside hot beverage specialist and owner of the Horlicks brand, Aimia Foods, is reporting a big rise in sales and profits.

St Helen-based Aimia employs more than 300 people manufacturing, packaging and distributing hot and cold drinks for big brands such as Mars. It is also the owner of the Horlicks hot drinks brand as well as Drink Me Chai.

It was founded by the Unsworth family in 1981 until it was sold to Cott Corporation. The Unsworth family bought the business back in 2024 and Robert Unsworth is the principal shareholder of the firm.

In accounts for the 12 months to January 3, 2026, posted on Companies House, Aimia is reporting sales up almost 10% to £134.8m and pre-tax profits rising 45% to £18.8m. As a result Robert and other shareholders will share a dividends windfall of £14.5m.

Writing in the annual report managing director Paul Whitlow said the recent pattern of growth for the business was continuing. He added it was “a strong operational performance, supported by investment”.

“The growth was achieved through the resilient broad-based, multi-channel, multi-brand model deployed by the company, ensuring it was well placed to capitalise on opportunities, with year on year growth being achieved across all channels,” Paul also said.

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Aimia specialises in turning dry powders and ingredients into finished drink products, such as blending hot chocolate or malt powders. They can be sold as sachets in shops and cafes or for use in vending machines.

Big names, such as Mars, use Aimia Foods to manufacture and package their branded products – such as Galaxy hot chocolate or Maltesers drinks – so they don’t have to build their own operations.