UK wine and spirits maker Kingsland Drinks Group has appointed Sarah Baldwin as its new managing director.
She will take on the role at the Manchester-based company in April, succeeding Ed Baker, who left the business in November.
He announced his plans to depart in July, citing an exit from the drinks industry altogether.
Baldwin joins Kingsland Drinks from the Midlands juices manufacturer Purity Soft Drinks, where she served as CEO for more than six years.
She brings extensive experience in the FMCG sector, having held leadership roles at Gü Puds as managing director, Arla Foods as UK marketing vice-president and Asda as category director.
She is also a board member and executive council member of the British Soft Drinks Association.
Kingsland Drinks Group chairman Andy Sagar said in a statement: “Sarah’s extensive experience in drinks and the wider FMCG industry will play a considerable role in the coming years as we continue to build our position as a competitive full-service drinks company.
Sagar added that Baldwin’s “expertise and vision will continue to drive our company forward and help us deliver our long-term company vision – to build a better drinks industry and society.”
Commenting on the new role, Baldwin said she is joining “a talented and well-developed team in a unique business at an exciting time”.
Baldwin added that she looks forward to “the opportunity to embark on this new chapter at Kingsland Drinks Group and be part of how the firm grows in the long term.”
Kingsland Drinks is a privately owned drinks producer and contract packer, bottler and distributor.
The group’s own brands include Mix Up RTD cocktails, Pod Pea Vodka and Spanish wine brand Campaneo.
In the statement, Kingsland Drinks said it had recently “upweighted” its focus on spirits, as well as low- and no-alcohol beverages, adding that it had increased its packaging capabilities, adding new bottling, carbonation, canning, and bag-in-box lines.
It also reinstated its onsite winery and expanded its product development capacity with a new laboratory.
Since transitioning to an employee-owned model in 2021, Kingsland Drinks focuses on offering a complete category solution for the drinks supply chain.
The company works with retailers and brands to develop wine and spirits products, supported by its in-house product development team and flavour laboratory.
The company’s 18-acre facility in Irlam, Greater Manchester, employs more than 400 people and provides bottling, distribution, and product development services for major international brands, retailers, and emerging drinks companies.
