Bottling is not just an unavoidable element in bringing your spirit to market – in 99% of cases it literally holds your spirit and is a large part of the end product. Consumers buy a bottle, not just the liquid inside…
What that bottle looks and feels like plays a much bigger role in how that spirit is perceived. It determines whether consumers want to try what’s inside or not. It helps, or hinders, the price point you can command. It’s essential to get it right as it also conveys brand identity, the message and the point of differentiation.
Choosing the right look, model and bottle supplier, therefore, is one of the big decisions to make for all craft distillers. And that’s before you consider all of the availability of supply, cost of goods and economic areas involved in the decision!
Below, we’ve compiled some of the top bottle suppliers globally, each with a little information on their location, operational scale, and what makes them a good partner for spirits producers.
Considerations when choosing a bottle supplier
For those seeking more insight, we’ve got a dedicated article to custom glass and the elements involved. It goes into the details (costs, timeline, process) that are required to make a bespoke option for your brand: Custom Bottles
For those looking for a supplier – it helps to keep the following in mind.
When selecting a bottle supplier, consider these factors:
Location:
Choosing a supplier closer to your distillery will reduce transportation costs, improve delivery timelines and lower the environmental footprint involved in that area.
However, global suppliers often have the scale to offer better pricing. So, while transport is a major factor when reviewing sustainability suitability – it’s worth keeping a holistic outlook when looking at the full environmental impact and product lifecycle.
Scale and flexibility:
Some suppliers are geared towards large-scale custom design production for clients with bespoke needs, while others excel at frequent, small-batch runs of popular shapes and molds. Make sure the supplier’s scale matches your requirements.
Equally, ‘off the peg’ shapes can often be sourced from different suppliers, some of which are the actual makers, other middlemen and logistics companies. Figure out if you are buying from the source, or if not, that you are shopping around for the best price and from someone who will provide good supply security / continuity.
Sustainability:
Increasingly, suppliers are offering eco-friendly packaging solutions—consider partners that align with your sustainability goals. Look at proximity (as mentioned above), % PCR glass content, their furnace technology and how they as a production site deal with Scope 1,2 and 3 emissions.
Do your homework and ask about their commitment towards net zero production and the other, human elements of their factories. The top suppliers all have sustainability initiatives, workplace initiatives, clear action plans that they will be able to share, as well as are constantly innovating technology to improve their environmental footprint.
Global Suppliers
Ardagh Group
Ardagh Group is a leading global supplier of sustainable packaging, specialising in metal and glass solutions for brand owners worldwide. With 61 production facilities across 16 countries and a workforce of around 20,000, Ardagh generates approximately $9.4 billion in annual sales. It’s a massive company that’s able to cater to all sized operations.
Ardagh’s focus on continuous improvement is evident in its approach to customer innovation and operational practices. Meanwhile, their ESG and sustainability plans are well documented and publicly available.
Berlin Packaging
Berlin Packaging is a full-service supplier, offering a vast range of bottles and closures, with a focus on both stock and bespoke glass solutions. Their key advantage is that they reduce supply chain risk through their extensive global network and ability to offer dual sourcing.
That said, they are a huge operation (over 60 locations across four continents and more than 6 million square feet of warehouse space). So, while they have the ability to provide almost anything – it’s a case of matching the scale of your operation and / or the flexibility you need that becomes factor to consider here.
Estal
Based out of Barcelona in Spain, Estal have many innovative and aesthetically striking packaging solutions. Their design-led approach is perfect for brands seeking something fresh and unconventional and where the base shape, spec and look helps underpin any further label work and embellishments.
In recent years, Estal have pushed their sustainability creds with a range of eco-friendly packaging solutions, including their Wild Glass line, which is made from 100% recycled glass.
Saverglass
As a France based company (with production sites internationally) – Saverglass have long supplied high-end glass packaging, making it an ideal partner for brands aiming for a premium or luxury market. Their expertise in bespoke, intricate designs ensures that your spirit stands out with a high-quality, luxurious aesthetic.
As well as providing the usual shapes and bottle solutions to clients globally, Saverglass offers quite extensive design services that allow brands to create a bottle that is as unique as their spirit.
Stoelzle Glass Group
With production sites in the UK, USA, France and in Poland, Stoelzle has a long history of producing glass bottles for a wide range of spirits, including whisky, gin, vodka, and liqueurs. This experience ensures that they understand the specific needs of different spirit types. They are particularly well known for their bespoke projects and some of the most eye-catching craft brands of the past 10 years.
Stoelzle places a strong emphasis on sustainability, including efforts to minimise environmental impact through energy-efficient processes and recycled glass too.
Vetroelite
Vetroelite are a well known and trusted Italian supplier, who specialise in luxury and high-end bottle solutions, providing bespoke options that cater specifically to premium spirits. As a mid-sized player – Vetroelite can cater to both large-scale and smaller boutique production needs and that flexibility can really help for brands who start from small and who need a partner that can accommodate growth,
Verallia
As one of the largest glass manufacturers in the world, Verallia has the capacity to handle large-scale production runs efficiently, making them an excellent choice for high-volume brands that need consistent supply reliability.
They have production plants all over the world and their commitment to more environmental production is advanced, with both developments in furnace technology and substantial sustainability strategies being implemented.
Furthermore, Verallia offers a wide variety of standard bottles for spirits and is also well versed in how to create customised solutions and bespoke offerings. They are a trusted bottle supplier and one of the major names for a reason!
O-I Glass
Founded in 1903 by Michael J. Owens, the inventor of the automatic bottle-making machine, O-I Glass is a very established and well known bottle supplier and one of the more established names in glass packaging.
With 24,000 employees across 69 plants in 19 countries, O-I partners with global food and beverage companies to create high-quality glass containers. The company is committed to sustainability and social impact, and reports on this frequently as well as integrates these values into its corporate culture while supporting local communities through charitable initiatives and employee involvement.
For those work off stock bottles and off the peg solutions –
UK based Croxsons are a family-run business providing a wide array of packaging solutions globally. Croxsons offers a range of glass bottles and are known for great customer service.
Meanwhile, Kefla Glas in Germany are also a medium sized supplier, who do frequent production runs of popular stock models.
While both companies offer so much more than just this – they are fantastic for those looking for standard off the peg solutions, reliably and for a good price.
Bottle Suppliers in the USA
Anfora
Anfora are porcelain experts for those looking for ceramic bottles and customised ceramic components. Based in Pachuca, Mexico, they have a factory with over 900 employees, capable of high-volume production while offering low minimum orders of just 5,000 pieces.
Their products are lead-free, FDA-approved, and fired at high temperatures to ensure fully vitrified quality, ideal for luxury packaging. Anfora’s custom tooling is cost-effective, with mold development prices significantly lower than those in the glass industry, making premium custom packaging more accessible to smaller producers.
Arglass
Arglass is an American company which aims to disrupt the traditional glass industry with a fresh, innovative approach. In December 2020, they launched a state-of-the-art production facility in Georgia, which is recognised as one of the most advanced in the United States, focusing on flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability.
Arglass also prioritises a customer-centric, values-driven approach, understanding local market needs and offering agile, personalised production processes that differentiate them from industry norms.
Delos Glass
Originating from a family-run glass manufacturing background, Delos Glass has grown into a specialist in premium glass bottle packaging, known for its expertise in custom design and creative solutions. The company manages projects from initial concept to final product, encouraging creativity by experimenting with new materials, colours, and textures, while utilising the latest technological advancements.
They maintain strong relationships with major glass manufacturers in North America and overseas, collaborating closely to ensure the quality and supply security.
Evergreen Resources
Evergreen Resources is a family-owned packaging company established over two decades ago, focusing on connecting buyers with global manufacturing. They specialise in streamlining the packaging procurement process, offering high standards in quality control and supply chain management.
Evergreen Resources was founded in 2002 with six partner factories in China, implementing a rigorous audit system to ensure quality. They have since made significant investments in production lines to meet industry standards, added Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and warehousing in the US, and expanded the network to 100 manufacturing facilities.
Fusion Glassworks
Established in 2004, Fusion Glassworks provides affordable, high-quality custom glass bottle manufacturing based in China. The company leverages its experience to offer low-cost bottles and packaging products, particularly to businesses without experience in Chinese manufacturing, while maintaining quality standards comparable to Western organisations.
With low overhead costs and efficient Chinese manufacturing facilities, Fusion Glassworks offers very competitive pricing. Perhaps more importantly, by employing both Western and local staff, Fusion ensures effective communication, high-quality customer service as opposed to having to navigate that as an individual brand working with a manufacturer with language barriers and different time zones.
Global Package
Global Package, led by founder and CEO Erica Harrop, has over 30 years of experience in high-end wine and spirits glass packaging. They have formed strategic alliances with suppliers and designers, offering a diverse range of packaging styles, including traditional European influences.
Their comprehensive portfolio includes both off-the-shelf and custom glass options, enabling brands to find suitable, budget-friendly solutions. With a broad warehouse network and a focus on customisation and decoration, Global Package provides flexibility in their range of bottles and a strong focus on customer satisfaction.
Nouvel Glass (part of the Pavisa group)
Nouvel, with over 25 years of experience, is one of the bigger names in the design and production of blown glass, collaborating with international brands across various industries. As the innovation division of Pavisa Group, Nouvel utilises its advanced facilities to tackle complex projects.
In 2019, they launched VISSIO, focusing on limited edition design art in collaboration with renowned artists and designers. It’s a move that reflects Nouvel’s expertise from initial design to high-standard production and genuinely unique packaging.
Time to do your homework!
Choosing the right bottle supplier is a key decision for any spirits producer, impacting not only the presentation but also the logistics and overall brand experience.
While the emphasis of most conversations revolve around shape and price – there’s so much more to consider in order to find the right fit. It’s wise to understand the operational scale, sustainability commitments, and production capabilities of each supplier if you want to align your packaging with your brand’s vision and values.
With the right partner, you can create a bottle that not only houses your spirit but also tells your brand’s story, ensuring it stands out in an increasingly competitive market. More importantly though, you can find a partner and build a supply chain that acts as the foundation and intentionally helps you achieve the growth you are looking for.
Buying bottles should be far more than just a transaction based around purchasing dry goods…
