Berlin Packaging seals deal to buy French firm Verrerie Calvet

Berlin Packaging has announced a deal to acquire French packaging manufacturer Verrerie Calvet, as it looks to strengthen its business in Europe.

Located in Aimargues in the south of France, Verrerie Calvet offers glass bottles and jars along with a range of metal containers, closures, and specialty boxes and bags for transporting and shipping wine and oil.

Verrerie Calvet will be integrated into Berlin’s Bruni Glass division and will be run in partnership with the Bruni Glass team in France, which has offices and warehouses at Nice.

Following the deal, which is expected to close in the coming weeks, Verrerie Calvet employees will remain with the business.

Paolo Recrosio, managing director of Bruni Glass, said: “Joining with Verrerie Calvet strengthens our enterprise in France and across Europe. The team is talented, and the product and service offerings are excellent. Our operations in France have grown at double-digit rates every year, and now I expect even better things for our future together.”

Berlin Packaging CEO Andrew Berlin said: “Berlin Packaging has enjoyed tremendous growth in North America and Europe. As we move forward, I see so many opportunities to continue our natural growth and also to acquire the best companies in the packaging space. Verrerie Calvet will be another avenue for us to create jobs, as we have done already around the world.”

Stéphan and Eric Calvet of Verrerie Calvet added: “We are excited to become part of the Berlin Packaging family and to embrace our new Bruni Glass colleagues. We are proud of what we have built, and we know this new partnership will bring much more opportunity for our customers and employees.”

Chicago-headquartered Berlin Packaging is a $2.6 billion supplier of rigid packaging products. Verrerie Calvet marks Berlin’s ninth overall acquisition since 2010 and the third in Europe since 2016.

Last year, the firm bought UK closures manufacturer Erben in a move to expand in the beverage industry. Ipswich-based Erben also produces glass containers, corks, sparkling wine foils, and kegs.

Last August, Berlin also opened a new US facility for Freund Container & Supply, its division focused on convenience quantities of packaging and industrial supplies.