WALES’ leading family-owned branded soft drinks company is launching a new product to help customers to get their daily vitamin D dose.

Radnor Hills is introducing Radnor Vits, which launches today (March 1) on St David’s Day, is the first vitamin D flavoured spring water in Tetra Pak packages. Designed to be straw-free, you can drink it straight from the pack.

Everyone is advised to take a vitamin D supplement between October and March, when the sun is too low in the sky for our bodies to naturally make vitamin D from sunlight.

Vits is a low-calorie sugar-free drink which is also suitable for vegetarians and vegans. It comes in two flavours: lemon and lime and apple and raspberry.

Radnor Hills is targeting listings in supermarkets and health stores as well as care homes and hospitals.

Vits is also available to buy as a three-pack from Radnor Hills’ own online shop and also from Amazon.

Radnor Vits’ benefits include:

 Vitamin D – Contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function, cell division, teeth and bones

 Copper – Contributes to the maintenance of normal connective tissues

 Folic Acid – Helps make healthy red blood cells

 Selenium – Contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, nails, immune system, and thyroid function

 Zinc – Contributes to metabolism, brain function and normal

William Watkins, owner and managing director of Radnor Hills, said: “When we heard that 20 per cent of the British population is deficient in vitamin D, and that this is a growing problem thanks to lockdown and people staying indoors, we decided to create a new daily drink to help tackle the problem.

“Radnor Vits is the first functional drink of its kind in Tetra Pak packages and, as well as providing your daily dose of vitamin D, it also contains other vital vitamins and minerals to help support a balanced diet.

“Our new drink, designed as your once-a-day vitamin and minerals boost, increases your daily intake of vitamin D and other recommended vitamins and minerals up to 200 per cent.”

Over the past 12 months, there have been reports about vitamin D potentially reducing the risk of coronavirus and the government is keeping a close eye on the results of trials currently underway.

Started in 1990 by fifth generation farmer William, the business has grown into an international range of soft drinks and water products.

The Watkins family have farmed the land at Heartsease Farm near Knighton since 1903 and all the spring water for the company’s products is sourced from 12 boreholes on their land.

The company, which employs 170 people and is a £47 million business, was number 49 in the 18th annual Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100 and was identified as one of London Stock Exchange Group’s 1,000 companies to Inspire Britain.

For more information on the company, visit www.radnorhills.co.uk.