Bulmers plans to sell 'single-shot' brand Sidekick

HP Bulmer, the beleaguered cider-maker, is in negotiations to sell its successful shot brand Sidekick to drinks marketer Halewood International.

Neither Bulmers nor Halewood would comment on the sale, but a Halewood spokeswoman said an announcement was "probable in a couple of weeks".

Bulmers pioneered the single-shot market with the launch of Sidekick, a fruit-flavoured schnapps-based shot drink, in 2001. Sidekick is sold in individual 30ml pots shaped to sit on the rim of a glass or bottle. Within a year of its launch, it had generated sales of more than £20m.

The brand has been given scant attention in recent months, however, and there have been rumours of plans to sell it off.

Bulmers has been under pressure since a £3.3m black hole in its accounts was discovered last year. Scottish & Newcastle is understood to have made an offer to shareholders.

Halewood is best known for its Red Square pre-packaged spirit brand.

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