UNITED CAPS, an international manufacturer of high performance plastic caps and closures, has announced that the company is taking over the plastic closures division of Closures4you. The takeover offer includes 28 mm caps for re-usable glass bottles and for disposable PET bottles. This latest acquisition is part of UNITED CAPS’ comprehensive growth strategy. In June 2017, the company announced the takeover of cap and closure manufac- turer Dewit Plastics. In the case of Closures4you, the plan is to ensure future market supply from the UNITED CAPS plant in Schwerin. The takeover will make available capacity for a new closure design to replace some previous closures. To ensure a smooth transition in terms of customer supply, Closures4you will make its closure capacities available through the end of March 2018. "With this strategic step, UNITED CAPS is driving forward the modernisation of its product portfolio," explains Benoît Henckes, CEO of UNITED CAPS. "In accordance with the principle of ‘less is more’, we are working to restrict product complexity within our portfolio as much as possible while still offering first class closures for all PET and glass bottles.” The craft spirits sector is booming in the UK, and more and more artisan distillers are turning to Beatson Clark’s ‘apothecary’ range of bottles to ensure their product stands out on the shelf. Forty-five more distilleries opened in 2016, taking the total to 273, as consumers develop a taste for small batch, high-quality spirits. The number of distilleries has increased by 135% since 2010, according to The Drinks Business. Gin is particularly popular as it’s relatively simple to produce and lends itself to a wide variety of flavourings to suit all tastes. Glass manufacturer Beatson Clark offers both bespoke designs and standard bottles from its general sale range, but its ‘apothecary’ range is proving especially popular with artisan producers. The bottles were originally designed as pharmaceutical containers for medicines and tonics, and their vintage look and unusual shapes mean they can give a new craft spirits brand a distinctive, retro appearance. BrewDog was among the first to use Beatson Clark’s pharmaceutical bottles for its LoneWolf gin – they chose Beatson Clark’s 500ml Sloping Shoulder Flat bottle for the prototype gin they launched in April. “Customers often ask us for something different from the traditional bottles in our standard range but without the price tag and minimum volumes of a bespoke design that’s unique to them,” said Charlotte Taylor, Marketing Manager at Beatson Clark. “Our pharmaceutical bottles are proving a popular alternative to the usual shapes on the market, and they look fantastic – very distinctive and appealing. “Customers can even have these bottles embossed with their own name, logo or design, and the resulting bottle will still cost much less than a bespoke container that we’ve designed for them. “We’ve noticed a trend recently for brands to choose bottles and jars that were originally designed for something else – ready-mixed cocktails in a food jar, for example, or tomato passata in a beer bottle. “This latest move by spirits brands using pharmaceutical bottles is just the latest expression of that trend, and it’s one that can be extremely effective.” The value of gin sales alone has increased significantly in the UK over recent years, according to accountants UHY Hacker Young. Sales surpassed £1billion in 2016 and are expected to rise to £1.37billion by 2020 as gin enjoys a renaissance among consumers. Beatson Clark is the UK’s only manufacturer of pharmaceutical glass bottles and jars and holds a wide range of shapes and sizes to suit customers’ requirements. The range includes Winchesters, Tablet bottles and jars, Alpha Sirops and Sloping Shoulder Flats with a variety of neck finishes. Most can be produced in either white flint or amber glass and several are available from stock. 62 BREWING & BEVERAGE INDUSTRIES BUSINESS Apothecary Range is perfect fit for booming craft spirits sector UNITED CAPS takes over the plastic closures division of Closures4you News CONTAINERS www.beatsonclark.co.uk For more information visit: www.unitedcaps.com For more information visit: 62_Layout 1 10/11/2017 15:29 Page 1