A FIZZY juice firm based in Port Glasgow is toasting a lucrative new deal with a leading UK wholesaler.

The Start-Up Drinks Lab has signed on with Bidfood Scotland, which supplies food and drink to over 5,000 customers across the country, thanks to its popular alcohol-free alternative to rose wine, 'Sparklingly Sober'.

The fizzy soft drink - a blend of water, rhubarb, elderflower and ginger spice - is made in small batches at the company's Kelburn Business Park bottling plant.

It will now be listed by the wholesaler, which supplies the likes of hotels, pubs, restaurants, hospitals and education establishments, and looks set to help grow the order book.

Craig Strachan, co-founder of The Start-Up Drinks Lab, said: "The opportunity to work with the foodservice provider will open up so many new doors for our products and we're confident that this will be a massive step in the growth of our brand awareness and reach. "It allows us to supply new clients, especially those further afield, knowing that Bidfood can fulfil the orders. "This should in turn significantly increase our turnover, allowing us to reinvest to aid future growth within the industry."

The Drinks Lab started production in June last year creating a variety of craft soft drinks, mixers, ready-to-drink beverages, beers and ciders for a variety of brands across the UK.

Bidfood has chosen to list 'Sparklingly Sober' as part of its 'Grabbing Goodness on the Go' campaign supporting home-grown businesses.

The wholesaler will now work with Drinks Lab co-founders Craig and Hannah Fisher to help them increase production, create new products and attain healthy living accreditations.

Katie Sillars, Bidfood Scotland's supplier development manager, said: "It's not easy to start a food and drink business; the competition is fierce in the UK. "Currently, the manufacturing of snacking products and drinks in Scotland is expensive and many Scottish producers have to opt for production facilities in England or internationally instead. "However, having access to our network will give Scottish suppliers a real boost and could allow them to increase production, bringing that part of their business back to Scotland and supporting local jobs and the Scottish economy."

The Drinks Lab was one of three companies that won a competition to have their goods listed by the wholesaler.