Workers at Lucozade owner Suntory’s Gloucestershire factory have called off an industrial strike after agreeing a new pay deal.

Over 180 Unite Union members employed by Suntory Beverage & Food at the Coleford site had originally planned escalated industrial action over a pay dispute, claiming management was failing to “address the cost-of-living crisis”.

But the union said the strike had been avoided after a 5.5% pay increase was agreed.

Staff had originally been set to strike when the company failed to uphold its promise of a pay review, should inflation exceed five per cent before June 2023, but it said the Lucozade and Ribena owner “returned to the bargaining table with an improved offer.”

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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The unity of our members was critical. Once Suntory saw that members were not prepared to budge it returned to the bargaining table with an improved offer. This result again demonstrates how Unite is actively delivering improvements to the jobs, pay and conditions of our members.”

Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I supply chain director Karl Ottoma added: “Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I has reached an agreement with our union and employee representatives. This pay negotiation agreement represents a generous offer to our employees and cements our position as a top employer in the region.

“We’re pleased that our focus can now be directed to strengthening our customer service and producing our iconic Lucozade and Ribena drinks in the heart of the Forest of Dean.”

However the union said that despite the agreement, there were still “several” areas of “major concern” for workers at Suntory, and added it would be addressing these in the future with the company.