Industrial Packaging Group have recently completed the takeover of Jars and Bottles (Pattesons Glass Ltd)  in a multi-million pound deal.

New ownership

A majority stake has been taken by Industrial Packaging Group, an £85 million turnover operation based in Belgium. It is part of the family-owned and Luxemburg-based holding company, Gaasch Packaging.

David Mann, managing director, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for J&B to continue its growth and strengthen its operations further still, to offer its customer base the best possible service.

“We are also looking forward to working with such an established business in the packaging sector and all the additional qualities that will bring.”

Jars and Bottles, established in Wootton in 2007, is the UK's leading distributor of glass jars, bottles, and containers for the food and drink industry.

Having enjoyed rapid growth, launched and then expanded a purpose-built base – Atlas House – on Grimsby’s South Humberside Industrial Estate, it now employs 24 people and last year turned over £5.5 million.

Growth and development

Mr Mann, who is also vice chairman of Wembley-bound Cleethorpes Town FC, was majority shareholder, and has retained 20 per cent in the undisclosed deal – understood to be in the millions – with an appetite to expand as he remains on board.

“This brings exciting times for us at Jars and Bottles,” he said. “I will continue to keep a share in the business and act as managing director; our workforce will all continue in their existing roles with the potential now to increase in the coming months to strengthen our position in the marketplace.”

Explaining how the deal came about, Mr Mann told how IPG has established operations in Scotland to serve the spirits market, “becoming very successful up there”. “IPG came to us about a year ago,” he said. “Initially, we were looking to collaborate, but they became more keen to be involved. It is a good fit, and it's a perfect platform for the business to grow.”

Who are IPG

Through the acquisition, IPG said it will substantially strengthen its international distribution activities with “a strategic partner who has an excellent presence in the UK”.

“This acquisition represents a major step for the international expansion of IPG,” Jean-Christophe Gaasch, director at Gaasch Packaging, said. “The business and great team are a welcome addition to our already existing activities in the UK. We were looking for additional back-office support and warehousing space to better serve our Scottish customers and wanted to leverage our know-how in other segments of the market. We found the right match at Pattesons to reach our goals with an experienced and motivated partner.”

IPG operates in bottles and containers for the food, drink, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries, employing 46 people.

As well as Belgium and the spirits work in Scotland. Gaasch has operations in Luxemburg, as well as a distribution partnership in the US, Russia and China.

Till Next Time Jars and Bottles