Coca-Cola Enterprises denies Ball Packaging fire will hit can supplies in Olympic run up
CCE recognised Ball Packaging Europe with its 'Supplier of the Year' award for 2011 this April.
At the time Stephen Moorhouse, VP and general manager, supply chain, CCE said: “They are an outstanding partner and their efforts to develop, trial and implement the lightest possible 33cl can in the world is evidence of their thought leadership in addition to consistent performance.”
But asked whether the fire at Ball Packaging's Wrexham site, which produces 2bn beverage cans per year (mainly for soft drinks and beer) would affect product supplies in the run-up to the Olympics, a spokeswoman told BeverageDaily.com: "CCE does not currently receive a supply of cans from Ball Packaging for its UK operations.
"Therefore the recent incident at Ball Packaging’s Wrexham plant will have no impact on the business in Great Britain."
Ball Packaging Europe spokeswoman, Sylvia Bloemker, told this publication yesterday that due to fire prevention measures implemented at Wrexham, the fire had been contained.
Fire investigation continues
Two production lines restarted on Tuesday evening and "we expect the rest to follow progressively", she added.
However, Bloemker was unable to confirm remarks by North Wales Fire & Rescue Service that the probable cause of the fire was an accidental electrical fault.
"Details about the cause of the fire are still unclear and are currently investigated by internal and external experts," she said.
Asked to what extent customers such as CCE would be inconvenienced by the fire damage, she replied: "We would not wish to comment on any specific customers as we are working closely with all customers to satisfy their demands.
"We have a well established European production system which facilitates flexibility of supply options."
