Berlin Packaging Acquires H. Erben Ltd.

Berlin Packaging announced with Bruni Glass the strategic acquisition of H. Erben Ltd., a Hadleigh, England-based supplier of closures, packaging and packaging equipment with strength in the food and drinks sectors. Erben also brings dedicated operations in South Africa, in California with its California Capsules business, and operates www.TheBottleJarStore.co.uk for convenience quantities.
 
Berlin Packaging is a $2.6 billion global supplier of rigid packaging products and services to customers of all types across all sectors. The company has a stronghold in North America, where it has operated since 1898, and also has a European headquarters in Milan, Italy. In 2016, Berlin acquired Bruni Glass, a leading supplier of premium and specialty glass containers and accessories.
 
With the completed Erben acquisition, the combined company has offices spread throughout Europe, including Italy, France, Spain, and now the UK, to go alongside locations in South Africa, China and across
North America. This acquisition offers many benefits to the customers and suppliers of Berlin Packaging, Bruni Glass, and Erben alike.
 
Berlin and Bruni customers now enjoy added product depth and breadth, expanded geographic coverage with the addition of multiple warehouses in the UK and South Africa, and an England-based quality lab attuned to helping increase sales and profitability for customers.
 
“Adding Erben to the Berlin enterprise shows our commitment to acquire the best businesses in the packaging industry along with our proven approach to organic growth,” said Andrew Berlin, chairman and CEO of Berlin Packaging.
 
H. Erben Ltd. has more than six decades worth of experience supplying packaging and machinery to the wine, beer, and spirits markets, and has seen tremendous growth over the past decade under the leadership of Sasha Erben. With 2017 turnover almost quadruple that of levels in 2007, H. Erben Ltd. shipped more than 1 billion units of packaging last year.
 
“H. Erben Ltd. was started by my father in 1951 and is the jewel in my family,” said Sasha Erben, H. Erben Ltd.’s CEO. “I am excited about combining our company with Berlin Packaging, as I know together we can accelerate investments in our products, team, and capabilities like never before.”
 
All employees and locations will be retained, and Erben’s leadership, including Sasha Erben, will be continuing on in the same capacity. H. Erben Ltd. will now operate as Bruni Erben, a Berlin Packaging Company.