Acquisition by Saverglass Group aimed at meeting increasing demand in the Americas
Napa, CA – December 4, 2019 – Saverglass, the world’s leading manufacturer specializing in the production and decoration of luxury and high-end glass bottles for the wine and spirits industry, finalized the acquisition of the Belgian company MD Verre, a subsidiary of the Spanish group Vidrala.
In its Walloon factory in Ghlin near Mons, located on an 84-acre site, MD Verre produces some 160,000 tons of glass per year, mainly entry-level wine bottles.
Saverglass has continued to grow at an average rate of 10% per year over the past thirty years, largely due to its specialization in the booming segment of bottles and decanters designed to carry super premium spirits and fine wines. “With the commissioning of a powerful new ultra-modern plant in Guadalajara (Mexico) in June 2018, Saverglass significantly enlarged its footprint on the American continent, leading to consolidated sales this year that have topped the symbolic milestone of $550 million” said Régis Maillet, Marketing Director for Saverglass Group.
The Ghlin location meets the immediate need for a large and efficient production capacity to support the European presence of the Saverglass group in the world of fine wines. The production of its Emirates plant will be mainly reoriented towards the needs of customers from the Pacific and America regions. These changes will allow for the company to better meet the increasing demand in the Americas.
Adapting the MD Verre plant to accommodate its new target of high-end wines will rely on an immediate investment program of around $ 55 million over the next three years. This major financial effort, coming on the heels of the $ 550 million or so invested over the last eight years, will be facilitated by the modest cost of MD Verre, which was acquired for the symbolic price of one euro.
The transition of the Ghlin factory from mass production to the premium products of Saverglass will take place in stages thanks to a contract simultaneously being signed with Vidrala. The contract will lock in the supply of a significant part of its needs for the next five years.
At the same time, Saverglass is embarking on a major training program to prepare Ghlin’s 250 employees to develop Saverglass products, with support provided by the technical assistance of at least 100 of its 3,400 global staff from the Saverglass Group.
About Saverglass
Saverglass, an international group specializing in the production and decoration of high-end glass bottles, employs 3,400 staff globally. The group has three glassmaking sites and three decoration sites in France, a glassmaking site in the United Arab Emirates and a glassmaking and decoration site in Mexico.
Founded in Feuquières, in the French department of Oise, the Group generated sales of $514 million in 2018. Capitalizing on its expertise in glassmaking and decoration, and renowned for its innovative approach, high-quality products and designs, Saverglass focuses on brands of premium and super premium spirits, fine wines, champagnes and sparkling wines.
