Bermuda's biggest drinks manufacturer and distributor John Barritt & Son Ltd. has announced it will now import Coca-Cola and other soft drinks from overseas, rather than bottling them locally, to cut costs.

The beverage company, which has bottled soft drinks on the Island since 1874, said the decision was due to rising production costs and falling sales. And the firm vowed to maintain as many staff "as was practical".

Bottling of Barritt's Ginger Beer and Crystal Clear water will continue at the company's Verdmont Road facility in Smith's, said Barritt's general manager Bruce Barritt.

"Our first priority is to take care of our staff and retain as many of them as practical — in our new streamlined production scenario or in other section of the company," Mr. Barritt said.

"The costs of local manufacturing have risen to the point where it is better for us to import the majority of the soft drinks we sell.

"We will continue to bottle our Barritt's Ginger Beer as it is our heritage brand and there is strategic value to local production.

"Crystal Clear water continues to be popular with locals and visitors alike and there is scope for additional package and flavour options for that brand."

Barritt's sales, delivery and merchandising service will not be affected by the move, with more focus being put on the marketplace, deploying production staff to other areas of the company, said Mr. Barritt.

The Coca-Cola company has endorsed the move and will supply Barritt's through its TradeKO office, which has been set up to help small island bottlers gain access to the full range of beverages that it handles.

Barritt's has been the sole authorised bottler and distributor of Coca-Cola in Bermuda since 1927 and it will continue to do so, now offering the full range of Coke products to consumers.

"We look forward to introducing new and innovative refreshment products to the market and to continuing our history of being the supplier of Bermuda's best beverages," said Mr. Barritt.