THE Scottish bottling plant owned by the makers of Merrydown Cider and WKD has seen an upturn in revenue and profit.

Caledonian Bottling, which employs 50 at its site in Cumnock, East Ayrshire, reported turnover increasing from £15.8 million to £16.3m in 2011.

Pre-tax profits went from £1.7m to just shy of £2m.

The company, owned by Belfast-based SHS Group, also produces drinks for supermarket Aldi, plus firms including IGB and Buxton Enterprises.

Notes to the accounts said: "The directors consider that in light of prevailing economic and market conditions both the results for the year and the prospects for the future are satisfactory."

Overall staff costs rose slightly from £1.02m to £1.03m, with one extra production employee added in the year.

Dividends of £2m, up from £1m in 2010, were paid to the parent company.

Caledonian Bottlers was started in 1992 by Freddie Williams, and was fully bought over by SHS Group following his death in 2008.

SHS Group owns a range of other consumer brands including the Shloer grape drink, Bottlegreen cordials and non-alcoholic beer Equator.

It also operates match making firm Maguire & Paterson and food companies which supply own label products to supermarkets.