Babco International has acquired premium ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail brand Tom Savano in a move that underlines the group’s push into higher-growth, premiumised categories and marks a significant expansion of its brand-led model.
Revealed exclusively to Drinks Retailing, the deal places Tom Savano Cocktails into Babco’s growing portfolio as the business continues its transition from distributor to brand-building platform.
The acquisition gives Babco a clear foothold in the fast-evolving RTD space, where demand is increasingly shifting towards higher-quality, bar-standard serves. Founded by James Kerslake, the Tom Savano brand is notable for its use of proprietary citrus technology which is designed to deliver fresh citrus character with an extended shelf life.
Listings have already secured in Sainsbury’s, as well as travel retail channels including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Eurostar.
“Tom Savano is an exceptional brand with a clear identity and a genuine commitment to cocktail quality,” Babco International’s group CEO Lewis Bowen he said.
“The RTD category is evolving quickly, and consumers are increasingly seeking premium options that replicate the experience of a great bar serve.”
The deal represents another step in Babco’s evolution following its 2025 merger with Innovatus Drinks. As Bowen describes in our headline interview for Drinks Retailing’s March/April edition, the merger created a more financially robust and brand-focused business which is now centred on owning intellectual property and building brands with long-term value, rather than relying on high-volume distribution. The group is also now working with third-party producers as it enters a new chapter reviving lapsed trademarks.
Bowen added that Babco sees “significant opportunity” to scale Tom Savano through its distribution infrastructure, as it aims to keep up with the pace of change in the RTD space.
Tom Savano’s range spans both canned and bottled formats, from Hot Honey Margarita and Classic Mojito to more premium bottled serves such as Devon Coastal Negroni and Kentucky Winter Old Fashioned.
