Berlin Packaging expands geographical reach with Erben acquisition

07-Mar-2018 - Last updated on 07-Mar-2018 at 10:52 GMT

Berlin Packaging acquires H. Erben. Photo: H. Erben

Berlin Packaging has acquired H. Erben, a UK supplier of closures, packaging, and packaging equipment in food and beverages.

Erben also has operations in South Africa and California with its California Capsules business, and owns www.TheBottleJarStore.co.uk.

South Africa, China

With the completed acquisition, Berlin Packaging will have offices across Europe, including Italy, France, Spain, and the UK, alongside South Africa, China, and North America.

Erben marks Berlin’s second acquisition in Europe and eighth overall since 2010. It acquired Bruni Glass in 2016.

All employees and locations will be retained, and CEO Sasha Erben, will remain as part of the business which will now operate as Bruni Erben, a Berlin Packaging Company.

“Sasha Erben leads an extraordinary company that not only shares our focus on quality, service, and results for customers, but has a culture that delights in serving and growing powerfully in the marketplace,” said Andrew Berlin, CEO, Berlin Packaging.

“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.”

H. Erben has more than six decades of experience supplying packaging and machinery to the wine, beer, and spirits markets, and has seen tremendous growth over the past decade.

1 billion packaging units

With 2017 turnover almost quadruple that of levels in 2007, H. Erben 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 Erben.

“I am excited about combining our company with Berlin Packaging, as I know we can accelerate investments in our products, team, and capabilities.”

Berlin Packaging is a $2.6bn 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 has a European headquarters in Milan, Italy.

Berlin and Bruni customers expanded geographic coverage includes the addition of multiple warehouses in the UK and South Africa, and a UK-based lab.