The Rivella drinks concern, based in canton Aargau, has acquired the Fruchthof company in Zollikon, which manages fruit juice dispensers throughout Switzerland.

Rivella said the move would strengthen its position in the fruit juice sector. The two companies agreed that they would not release financial details of the transaction.

Fruchthof has for many years had the licence rights of the Vitality Foodservice company in Florida, which makes automatic dispensers and fruit juice concentrates.

A statement said that Fruchthof was mainly represented in high-class gastronomy, hotels, restaurants, hospitals and company canteens.

It added that Fruchthof had annual sales of 2.5 million litres of fruit juice.

"The new activities acquired with Fruchthof complete the current marketing and sales of our own Michel brand of fruit juice in an optimal way," said Rivella chief executive officer, Franz Rieder.

Rivella in Rothrist employs 230 people and has annual sales of SFr128 million.

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