Boost marks special milestone as it celebrates 20 years in Northern Ireland

Energy drinks giant Boost is celebrating its 20th year of business in Northern Ireland.

The Leeds-based operation began in 2003 and grew from an initial order of a single pallet to selling 30,500,000 cans and bottles a year.

In addition, during that time, it has been helping various local charities including the Air Ambulance in Northern Ireland.

As part of the anniversary celebrations it is holding its Always in Your Corner campaign - looking for local heroes.

Five individuals and five retailers have been chosen and will be revealed in a ceremony at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast next month.

CEO, Simon Gray, said it was a special time for the company, especially in Northern Ireland.

“As a business, it is easy to forget about the wider impact Boost has had on the many organisations and individuals here that we have worked with," he said.

"We are committed to continuing to build on the good will and affection that people from Northern Ireland feel for Boost for the next 20 years.

"For 20 years we have immersed ourselves in every aspect of life in Northern Ireland, supporting local charities, encouraging grass roots sportsmen and women, giving NHS workers a boost and raising the profile of performers and various organisations and individuals. In fact, we’ve been so present in Northern Ireland society that people often think this our home which I take as a huge compliment.

“We couldn’t have achieved our market position without the support of the hard-working people of Northern Ireland.

"So, this year was all about saying thank you for being in our corner for the last 20 years. We wanted our gratitude and our celebration to be at the heart of the brand activations for our Boost Iced Coffee, Sport and Energy ranges.”

Simon then elaborated on the Always In Your Corner campaign.

"The search for our local heroes generated hundreds of entries and after much deliberation we chose five individuals and five retailers whose identities will be revealed at our 20th birthday celebration taking place at the Titanic Hotel on November 2nd.," he said.

"The Boost heroes will receive a trophy, shops will get a slimline fridge and consumers will get a £200 voucher, as a thank you for all of the commitment they have shown to their customers and communities."

Gareth Hardy, Hardy Distribution, Boost’s distribution partner in Northern Ireland, added: “We have been distributing Boost for 20 years in Northern Ireland - we have been there from day one. We are an extension of their business and they treat us just like that and I believe that’s been key to our success. Offering a product that is competitively priced in 2003 but did not compromise on quality or taste was exactly what the market here wanted, and consumers responded.

“Since we started working with Boost, we have gone from two employees to 10 and from 2,000 sq ft to 50,000 sq ft of warehouse space. The relationship we have with Boost is testament to how collaborative working can really pay off.”

Meanwhile, Coleen Milligan, Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, spelled out exactly how Boost had helped in the running of its service.

"It costs around £48K per week to keep the Air Ambulance operational and we get on average two callouts per day," she said.

"The £41K raised by Boost meant that our team could make 12 potentially lifesaving responses getting treatment to those who need it most in the fastest way possible. They used several tactics to help raise funds including donating a percentage from the sale of every Boost Red Berry bottle, sponsoring our Three Peaks event, providing staff to help on the day and giving all participants a goody bag.”