News: Beatson Clark celebrates 275 years of manufacturing in Rotherham

Historic glass packaging manufacturer Beatson Clark welcomed customers and special guests to its Rotherham site recently to celebrate 275 years of glass packaging manufacturing.

Beatson Clark has been manufacturing glass containers on the same site since it opened in 1751, and it now supplies glass bottles and jars to the food, beverage, healthcare, homeware and personal care sectors across the world.

The company began as a small canalside glassworks, and the Beatson Clark name emerged from a series of partnerships between the Beatson and Clark families for over two centuries. Today, the business is owned by Newship Group, retaining its proud status as an independent, family-run company.

It is the only independent, UK-owned glass container manufacturer, and the oldest glass manufacturer in the country.

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion attended the celebration, which featured tours of the glassworks and spray decoration plant, a chance to experience virtual reality training technology, a nostalgic demonstration of glass blowing, and a display of Beatson Clark memorabilia and products.

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Eddie Pickering, Managing Director of Beatson Clark, said: “Beatson Clark has continued to evolve, embracing innovation and investing in new technologies, processes and skills to meet the changing needs of our customers. That willingness to adapt, while remaining true to our core values, has been fundamental to our success.

He continued: “Most importantly, today is a celebration of our people. I am immensely proud to be part of the Beatson Clark team. Their dedication, expertise and resilience continue to drive our business forward.

“As we celebrate this significant milestone, we do so with gratitude for those who have contributed to our success over the last 275 years and with confidence in what the future holds. We remain committed to building on our proud heritage and ensuring that Beatson Clark continues to thrive for generations to come.”

Sarah Champion, Member of Parliament for Rotherham, said: “Since the earliest days of the industrial revolution, Beatson Clark has been manufacturing glass in Rotherham. Throughout this time they have consistently provided generations of skilled, well paid jobs.

“Through world wars, economic decline, depression and renewal, Beatson Clark has endured, helping to drive our regional economy.

“I’ve just had a fabulous afternoon learning how to make and decorate glass with them. I want Beatson Clark to continue to thrive for another 275 years. It has been my honour to represent them in Parliament to celebrate their achievements and challenge any threats they face.”

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News: Beatson Clark welcomes key additions

Leading glass packaging manufacturer Beatson Clark has strengthened its sales and marketing team with three new appointments.

Beatson Clark, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

Gary Steen has joined the company as Sales & Marketing Director, Craig Crooks has taken the role of Key Account Manager (UK), and Emma McCartney is Beatson Clark’s new in-house Digital Marketing Specialist.

These three new appointments each bring a wealth of experience and ideas and will bolster Beatson Clark’s sales and marketing efforts as the company looks to grow and expand into new sectors in 2026.

Having worked in the glass industry for 32 years, Gary Steen has got lots of fresh ideas to bring to the team.

“It’s a competitive market, but we’re still seeing plenty of exciting opportunities, especially in amber,” he said.

“With over three decades in the glass industry, I’m really enjoying using my experience to help us focus on where we can grow. Our on-site decoration plant is a big part of that too; it gives us a real edge as we expand what we offer in the spirits and cosmetics sectors.”

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Craig Crooks has worked in the glass industry for over eight years. His new role is to maintain and grow Beatson Clark’s existing customer base across the UK, developing relationships and exploring new opportunities.

“It’s been great so far,” said Craig. “The people here are fantastic: warm, welcoming, very experienced and up for a challenge. Everybody’s working towards the same goal, which is brilliant to be part of.”

Craig says the long heritage of Beatson Clark and its status as the UK’s only independent glass packaging manufacturer are both clear advantages offering stability and experience in the current uncertain climate.

“I like the culture and the history of Beatson Clark and the fact that we’re an independent in an increasingly corporate industry,” he said. “It means we can offer the personal touch and be more agile and responsive, which some of the more corporate manufacturers find hard to do.”

Digital Marketing Specialist Emma McCartney has a degree in English literature and a master's in creative writing, and she’s combining those skills with her digital expertise to enhance Beatson Clark’s visibility in the marketplace.

She’s gained experience in a number of marketing roles since graduating from Newcastle University in 2021.

“I’m interested in glass from a personal point of view – at home I mostly store food in glass, and I appreciate the health and environmental impacts, so it aligns with my values.

“I’ve been here for three months and already I’ve been building out a robust digital marketing strategy and working with the team on developing our 2026 marketing calendar across all marketing segments.

“My aim is to grow our digital presence, develop our brand story and as my role progresses, I hope to build on the professional relationships I’ve made so far.”

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News: Future of UK glass manufacturing at risk under penalising new government scheme

A new scheme that seeks to make those who put packaging on the market responsible for its entire lifecycle, is expected to damage the future prospects of one of Rotherham's oldest manufacturers.

The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme is designed to hold packaging producers responsible for recycling costs and ensure that product design incorporates considerations for disposal and recycling.

Representatives of the UK glass industry argue that the scheme favours lighter, less recyclable packaging.

Beatson Clark, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, recently raised this issue again in parliament. She said: "I am immensely proud to have Beatson Clark in my constituency, which has been manufacturing glass in Rotherham for more than 270 years. It is a key local employer, and the only remaining independent UK-owned glass container manufacturer. It is also the only company in the UK that still produces amber pharmaceutical glass. After adding in the supply chain, more than 2,000 people are dependent on Beatson Clark for their livelihood.

"Glass manufacture is energy-intensive, but with electric and hybrid furnaces and readily available technology there is no reason why glass cannot be a net zero product in the not too distant future, especially with Government support with infrastructure and electricity costs, as per the Climate Change Committee’s recommendations. Yet, because of the Government’s dogged decision to press ahead with extended producer responsibility, initiated by the previous Administration, we instead face the decimation of our domestic glass industry.

"Job losses and the closure of sites are literally just around the corner. That is not the industry overreacting. British Glass has already received warnings from more than one beer and cider manufacturer that there is no future for glass in this country due to the EPR policy. EPR follows hot on the heels of a challenging few years for UK glass manufacturing. The energy crisis, increased costs and a reduction in trade tariffs from 6% to 0% since leaving the EU have made cheaper imported glass so much more attractive."

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The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) recently published per-tonne fees to be introduced in the EPR scheme.

Trade body, British Glass, warns that despite glass making up only 5% of collected packaging by volume, it will bare around one-third of total costs. This means the per-unit impact on glass – which is how brands and retailers buy products – is estimated to be 3 to 5 times higher than competing materials – meanwhile - competing beverage packaging (polyethylene terephthalate (PET), aluminium and steel) will face no costs due to inclusion in a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) until late 2027.

Beatson Clark explains that glass is 100% recyclable forever, and it can be melted down repeatedly to create new bottles without any loss of quality or integrity. Amber glass containers manufactured by Beatson Clark contain 56% post-consumer recycled material on average, while the figure for white flint is 36%. Any waste glass created during the manufacturing process is also recycled back into the furnace, so there is zero waste and even lower use of raw materials.

The manufacturer, which has invested millions of pounds in its Greasbrough Road facility in recent years, processes around 44,000 tonnes of waste glass recovered from kerbside collections, bottle banks and the hospitality trade on site.

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News: Beatson Clark community efforts come to light

Glass packaging manufacturer Beatson Clark will be turning its Rotherham factory sign red for Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day - a glowing tribute to those who gave their lives in wartime.

The historic firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, has also launched a new charitable fund.

Eddie Pickering, Managing Director at Beatson Clark, said: "Of course we are very proud of the men and women who fought for their country, and proud too of the contribution Beatson Clark has made to the war effort at various times throughout history.



“In 1914, many women began to work at Beatson Clark in the warehouse, washplace and stoppering shop. In World War Two women moved into production while the men were on active service, and women outnumbered men at the Stairfoot site for the first time.

“We also adapted our production to support the war effort in the 1940s, manufacturing glass containers for armament and medical packs as well as the glass spheres for so-called ‘sticky bombs’ used to attack German tanks.”

Alongside its other work supporting charities and good causes, Beatson Clark’s Colleague Community Engagement Fund provides £2,000 every year to support colleagues who are raising money for or supporting local good causes.

Employees have the chance to apply for one of four £500 grants each year – and this year’s winners have just been announced.

Technical buyer Amanda Taylor has won £500 to help her local cricket club to buy all-weather nets.

Whiston Parish Church Cricket Club plans to install a £30,000 three-lane artificial net facility which will be fully wheelchair accessible and available for use by local schools. Beatson Clark’s donation via Amanda will bring this exciting new facility a little closer.

Beatson Clark has long been a supporter of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, so the company was delighted to offer to help its Quality Assurance and Technical Assistant Trevor Gane who’s raising money for the Rotherham charity.

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Trevor will be running the Doncaster 10K in November and his employers are matching his fund-raising up to £500 from the Colleague Community Engagement Fund.

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice cares for children and young adults with life-shortening and life-threatening conditions. The charity currently supports around 250 families, both in the hospice in North Anston and in family homes.

Support services include end-of-life treatment and care, music therapy, counselling, sibling support groups, home visits and much more.

Next May a team from Beatson Clark will be tackling the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for Bluebell Wood, the mental health charity Mind and Rotherham Cancer Care. The community fund will be matching their efforts up to £1,000.

Eddie Pickering added; "We’re pleased and proud to be launching our Colleague Community Engagement Fund, which will enable us to give even more back to our local community.

“We’ve been supporting Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice for many years, and I’m delighted to say that this charity is just one of the good causes that we are supporting this year.

“This new fund is a great way to encourage more of our colleagues to get involved with good causes and wellbeing activities in the local community.”

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News: Beatson Clark helps council keep glass recycling local

More local glass recycling is to be turned into new glass packaging for niche brands in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical market in Rotherham after Beatson Clark signed a contract with Leeds City Council.

Leeds City Council specified that as far as possible the waste glass they collect should be processed in Yorkshire, reducing transport emissions and keeping the process as local as possible.

So, an amount of the glass from Leeds will be sent by HW Martin Waste Ltd to Beatson Clark’s on-site recycling plant in Rotherham, where it will be melted down and turned into new bottles and jars for Beatson Clark’s customers.

Charlotte Pike, Marketing Manager at Beatson Clark, said: “Recycling waste glass is a really important part of our manufacturing process as it reduces the amount of raw materials we use and cuts down of energy use and carbon emissions too.

“On average our amber glass containers are made up of over 56% post-consumer recycled glass and over 36% for our white flint glass containers; this is in addition to any industrial waste glass generated during the manufacturing process.

“Every 10% of recycled glass means an estimated 5% reduction in CO2 emissions and a 3% cut in energy consumption, so the more recycled glass we can use, the better it is for the environment.

“We’re pleased to say that through our relationship with HW Martin we’re also helping Leeds City Council with its sustainability objectives: much of the waste glass we use is recycled in Yorkshire and made into new Yorkshire bottles or jars!”

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Every year Beatson Clark processes around 44,000 tonnes of waste glass recovered from kerbside collections, bottle banks and the hospitality trade at its on-site recycling plant on Greasbrough Road.

This ‘closed loop’ recycling system ensures that large volumes of recycled glass are processed on site and used in the production of new containers, significantly reducing the environmental impact of the manufacturing process.

Leeds currently collects about 8,000 tonnes of glass from its network of 700 bottle banks around the city, but 11,400 tonnes is going in the general waste wheelie bins. If this 11,400 tonnes were placed in the recycling wheelie bin the environmental benefit would be an annual carbon saving of 2,600 tonnes per year - the equivalent of taking 975 cars off the road.

Beatson Clark is reminding households to recycle correctly by identifying what glass can go in the recycling bin and what glass can’t.

Heatproof glass like Pyrex and oven doors can’t be recycled with bottles and jars, for example, and the same applies to mirrors, spectacles, window glass and light bulbs. They melt at a different temperature and can cause glass defects in the new packaging being produced.

“Kerbside collections contribute enormously to the industry’s target of achieving 90% glass collection rate by 2030,” added Charlotte. “We are already well on our way with over 74% recorded in the UK, and with councils like Leeds introducing kerbside collections, we are paving the way to reaching this goal.”

Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, Councillor Mohammed Rafique, said: “We are delighted to be able to start this glass collection service, which we know has long been an aspiration for the city and its residents.

"[It] will help make a significant difference to our recycling rates and benefit the environment and the local economy."

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News: The outstanding products standing out in Rotherham-made glass containers

The UK’s only Trappist brewery has released a second beer which is now on sale in a bottle designed and manufactured by Beatson Clark in Rotherham.

The Greasborough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

Mount Saint Bernard Trappist Brewery in Coalville, Leicestershire has brewed a tasty blond beer to join its internationally renowned Tynt Meadow dark ale – both of which are sold in the 330ml amber beer bottle from Beatson Clark’s standard range.

Trappist beers are traditionally sold in bottles because they undergo secondary fermentation in the bottle, a process that is ideal in glass. 

It means the beer matures in flavour for the first three years, and because of the inert nature of glass it can have a much longer shelf life than that if the bottle isn’t opened, something that isn’t possible in other packaging materials such as cans. 

 “Because of this process, if the bottles are kept in the right conditions – out of UV light, at a consistent room temperature – and the crown and bottle is kept sealed so that no oxygen can get in, the beer will last indefinitely,” explained Peter Grady, Brewery Manager at Mount Saint Bernard Abbey.  

 “The flavour profile of a Tynt Meadow changes drastically over the course of the first three years and, in our opinion, less so after that. This is why we put three years on the bottle, but it will last much longer than that as it’s packaged in glass.” 

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Beatson Clark products are a popular choice for many beer brands such as BrewDog, Robinsons and Greene King but it's not only beer that benefits from glass containers.

Beatson Clark has been helping its long-standing customer Cottage Delight to update its packaging with a renewed focus on sustainability as the company celebrates its 50th birthday this year.

Cottage Delight sells hand-made food products such as jams and chutneys in 36 countries worldwide.

Cottage Delight is renewing its commitment to sustainability, removing the mop cap and elastic band from its jars and replacing them with aluminium lids, which means that the packaging will be 100% recyclable.

Beatson Clark has worked with the company for over two decades and has now redesigned the bespoke 302ml jar – the main jar in the range – to have a deep twist-off neck finish, giving it a modern look and providing a larger area on the cap for printing.

Sarah Williams, Marketing Director at Cottage Delight, said: "Working with the Beatson Clark design team has enabled us to create a more contemporary jar, while retaining a feel of heritage. The revised shape also means a more efficient jar for our production line and it will allow more accurate application of the front label.

“The team at Beatson Clark have been great to work with, allowing us to meet our timescales at launch for our special anniversary year.”

A UK peanut butter brand has also selected the Rotherham glass manufacturer for its switch from plastic containers. Described as ‘the Champagne of peanut butters’, ManiLife is now sold in 1000s of UK stores including Waitrose, Sainsburys and Ocado, and the brand has partnered with leading names like Gousto, Hotel Chocolat and Leon to name just a few.

“The new jar is a genuine pleasure to use,” said Stu Macdonald, founder of ManiLife. “We designed it to make it supremely spoonable and easy to stir and I think the feedback reflects that.

“Our customers like the fact that we’ve moved from plastic to glass, for a wide range of reasons. The general consensus is that it looks far better and is far easier to use, which was our main consideration.

“The jar looks bigger and more premium, and the customer experience has improved significantly, so we’ve definitely seen an increase in sales as a result.”

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News: Thirst for Beatson Clark's British designed and manufactured glass products

Leading glass packaging manufacturer Beatson Clark continues to be the clear choice for a range of producers who focus on sustainability, suitability and style.

The Greasborough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

Wiltshire-based artisan food manufacturer Tracklements has moved more of its products into Beatson Clark’s glass jars to ensure sustainability and security of supply. Some jars previously manufactured in Europe will now be made in the UK.

Ben Read, Operations Director at Tracklements, said: “We’ve been a Beatson Clark customer for a long time – over 30 years. We’ve taken their standard jars and bottles for a long time but in the last four or five years we’ve also had Beatson Clark manufacture bespoke jars for us.

“Our other glass containers came from Europe – but in 2020 and 2021 there was a major move away from plastic and quite a few European furnaces were being rebuilt, which meant that glass supply was quite tight.

“We decided we wanted to secure the most local supply we could to try to be as sustainable as possible. Beatson Clark is one of very few glass manufacturers in the UK so it made sense to put more of our requirements with them.

“They were very good during the glass supply shortages, doing their utmost to maintain a constant supply of glass to us, and we felt they should be rewarded. We also want to secure that sustainability and security of supply."

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The move is the latest in a long line of contract wins for the Rotherham firm. Funkin Cocktails, the UK’s number one ready-to-drink cocktail brand, has switched to a British designed and manufactured bottle, having previously used standard glass bottles imported from overseas.

Lynn Sidebottom, Sales and Marketing Director at Beatson Clark, said: “We are seeing more and more customers coming to us who were previously buying their glass packaging from overseas.

“Sustainability and reliability in supply lines is increasingly important these days; if you buy British you support British manufacturing, you get a high-quality product, you minimise risk and you lower your impact on the environment."

Other recent wins for Beatson Clark include creating a 250ml bottle for the launch of Aupale Grapefruit Seltzer based on the Canadian spirit brand’s unique 750ml vodka bottle, and BOL Foods, makers of Power Shakes, switching to a new bespoke glass bottle.

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News: MP calls on Government to deliver for Rotherham’s steel and glass-making industries

Sarah Champion MP has called on the Government to stand by Rotherham’s steel and glass making industries in the face of rising energy costs.

Steel and glass making are significant employers in the Rotherham constituency, which hosts both Liberty Steel and Beatson Clark, a leading manufacturer of glass products.

Champion called on the Government to deliver both long-term certainty on energy prices and to work with the industries to ensure a level playing field with international competitors.

In August, the average UK wholesale price of energy was a £370 per megawatt-hour, as against a pre-crisis level of £50 per megawatt-hour. The German Government has confirmed the introduction of a scheme running for the entirety of 2023 that caps power prices for industry at £110 per megawatt-hour, which is more than £100 cheaper than the UK price cap scheme.

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Sarah said: "For nearly a decade, I have been calling for the Government to act on the long-term barriers standing in the way of steel and glass producers reaching their potential as power-houses of Britain’s industrial base.

"But time and time again, the Government’s response has been to praise the industries, say how valued they are and then do nothing. The current crisis must be a wake-up call. UK industries cannot hope to compete internationally if they continue to be hamstrung by a Government whose so-called industrial strategy is based entirely on inertia.

"I have heard it all before. My constituents have heard it all before. I urge the Minister to reflect on his Government’s record of failure with the industrial sector and work with these industries to deliver the vital support that they need to weather the current storm, and also to provide a policy environment that allows them to play their crucial part in driving our economy in the years to come.

"We cannot afford to waste another decade. The Government must deliver for steel and glass both in the short term and in the years ahead."

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Kevin Hollinrake, said: "The Government recognise the challenging international economic environment in which the steel industry has to operate, including in relation to overcapacity. Above all else, we understand the vital role that steel occupies as a cornerstone of the UK economy, underpinning domestic industries and local communities.

"Over the past nine years, the Government have committed £800m towards electricity costs through the energy intensive industries compensation scheme, on top of the energy bill relief scheme. Of course, we continue to consider what can be done to ensure that the steel industry is competitive, in fair terms, with other nations."

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News: Beatson Clark invests £1m in on-site recycling facility at Rotherham site

Leading glass packaging manufacturer Beatson Clark is staying ahead of the game by investing a further £1m in expanding its on-site recycling plant in Rotherham and installing new, more efficient equipment.

The Greasborough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

The company partnered with REDWAVE to complete a turnkey plant expansion which began operation last month.

Throughput at the recycling plant is expected to increase by an average of 50% over the year, and the project has created 12 full-time jobs which were previously contracted.

As part of the investment Beatson Clark has installed additional optical sorters, vibratory feeder conveyors, new screening machines and a new JCB telehandler.

Additional processing stages have been introduced using new vibrating screens and dedicated optical sorters, improving quality and reducing waste.

The new equipment and the additional inspection stages have reduced the false rejects of glass which were removed with the CSP (Ceramics, Stones and Pottery) by over 50%, which in turn has increased the plant efficiency. This makes the process more sustainable and means less waste glass going to aggregate for re-use rather than being truly recycled within our furnaces.

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Patrick Pagdin, Recycling Plant Manager at Beatson Clark, said: “The addition of new optical sorters makes the process more precise and reduces the amount of good glass which gets rejected by the machines and sent to waste, thereby increasing the amount of quality cullet that can be used in the furnace.

“We are now seeing an increased output of both white flint glass cullet and gramber (green and amber glass cullet) thanks to easier automated sorting and improvements in the colour sorting process.”

Beatson Clark has also installed a 300 sq m canopy to cover infeed material and protect it from inclement weather conditions; this will improve processing during the winter months as the material will remain relatively dry.

Colin Saysell, Logistics and Production Planning Manager at Beatson Clark, said: “Sustainability is an integral part of our philosophy as glass manufacturers. We are constantly looking at new ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint and cut waste.

“Our new, improved capability for resorting recycled glass at source will reduce the transport miles generated through the supply chain and will give us greater control of the quality of our cullet.”

Recommended reading: How Should the Success of Online Casinos Inspire Other Tech-Based Business Niches?

Glass comes into Beatson Clark’s recycling plant from the hospitality sector, which is beginning to recover from the pandemic, and from local authority kerbside collections of domestic glass.

The post-consumer recycled content rates for containers manufactured by Beatson Clark are 30% for white flint and 45% for amber glass. Our recycling plant used to generate on average 50% of this cullet; following these investments it now generates over 75% of the cullet.

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News: Beatson Clark retro bottles are just the tonic

A new Caribbean rum tonic drink called Wha Gwan has seen excellent sales since it launched this summer in 200ml amber Winchester apothecary bottles made by Beatson Clark in Rotherham.

The Greasborough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

Wha Gwan is a ready-to-drink melon cherry rum tonic described as “fully loaded with good vybz and strength”.

The 17.2% rum-based drink has been selling well in wholesalers, cash and carries and small retail outlets since it launched.

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David Mills, founder of Wha Gwan who licenses the brand to distributor BevStar, said: “Sales are good – we are one of the fastest growing new start-ups in the country at the moment.

“For the packaging we wanted to work directly with a manufacturer, and Beatson Clark are one of the main players in the marketplace.

“They’re a great company to work with and they’re very reliable and efficient in terms of timescales.

“We chose a pharmaceutical bottle to identify the drink as part of the category. Medicine-style bottles are proving very popular in the marketplace right now and rather than stand apart from them we wanted our new product to fit in with the rest of the sector.

“We believe we will soon start to see competitors launching similar products so we plan to customise our bottle within six months through embossing, once our brand is fully established in the market.”

Jonathan Clark, Account Manager at Beatson Clark, said: “The popularity of our vintage, retro-style apothecary bottles shows no sign of abating.

“Originally designed for pharmaceutical use, they lend brands an authentic apothecary look which is currently very popular in the craft spirits market. In addition the amber glass protects drink products from harmful UV rays, offering them a longer shelf life.

“Many bottles in this range are available from stock and the addition of embossing produces unique bottles for less than half the cost of a completely bespoke design.”

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News: Optibac goes with its gut and switches to glass

Optibac Probiotics, the UK’s most recommended brand of friendly bacteria supplements, has ditched the plastic and launched a brand refresh using amber glass jars manufactured by Beatson Clark in Rotherham.

The Greasborough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

With its relaunch, Optibac Probiotics has reduced plastic packaging by 96%, switching from plastic containers to 30ml, 60ml and 120ml amber glass jars with aluminium lids for all its capsule products.

This allows for wider recycling without compromising the delicate nature of the all-important friendly bacteria inside, so customers can enjoy the same quality supplements with greener packaging.

Beatson Clark Account Manager Jonathan Clark said: “Beatson Clark started out making pharmaceutical glass containers almost 300 years ago and we’re delighted to still be winning new customers in the sector today.

“Amber glass jars are ideal for pharmaceutical, health and wellbeing products. Amber is seen as traditional and safe, and it offers fantastic protection for pharmaceutical products, blocking over 90% of harmful UV rays which might otherwise damage or change the product inside.

“And of course the environmental benefits of glass over plastic are extremely well known. Glass is easy to recycle and it can be recycled an infinite number of times without losing any of its strength or integrity. Our amber glass also contains over 60% recycled materials.”

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Optibac Probiotics engaged branding agency 1HQ Global to reposition the brand, redefine the use of structural packaging for sustainable impact and create new front-of-pack illustrations to personify their mission to help people feel their best.

1HQ Global devised a series of elegant line-drawn figures in uplifting yoga poses while retaining the signature rainbow colour scheme to reassure consumers that the product inside has not changed.

The 15-strong Optibac Probiotics range features the world’s most researched strains of friendly bacteria. Some of the products have had a name change to help customers understand and buy the right product in a category often described by shoppers as difficult to navigate.

To minimise unnecessary waste, the new packaging will gradually be rolled out over the coming months as old stocks run out, with popular capsule products Every Day, Every Day EXTRA and For Women going first.

Soraya Janmohamed, co-founder and Marketing Director at Optibac Probiotics, said: “We truly believe that looking after our own health and that of our planet goes hand in hand and wanted to ensure our brand and packaging reflects this. Our commitment to providing exceptional quality products backed by science stays the same. Hopefully our customers will agree that the products they know and love are now more sustainable, and in stylish packaging too!”

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News: Beatson Clark continues production to meet brewery demand

As pubs remain closed, the increase in doorstep deliveries, online orders and retail sales has created demand for glass packaging which Rotherham manufacturer Beatson Clark is working hard to meet.

The Greasborough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

The company is concentrating on production of its 330ml amber 1907 beer bottle, which is ideal for breweries large and small both in the UK and overseas.

Charlotte Taylor, marketing manager at Beatson Clark, said: "It's important to maintain the production and supply of food, beverages and pharmaceutical products during the COVID-19 crisis, and to do that producers need packaging.

"That's why we took the decision to keep our glassworks running and to put in place stringent healthy and safety measures to protect our staff while they carry out their work."

With pubs, bars and restaurants closed the main market for independent breweries has ceased to exist - but they are finding new channels to supply their customers.

A recent report by SIBA, the Society of Independent Brewers, found that 70% of craft breweries are offering new delivery or takeaway services to keep the beer flowing, and around 61% of those breweries are offering free delivery.

Meanwhile over half of craft breweries (55%) say they have seen an increase in online beer sales.

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A number of breweries and cider makers that use Beatson Clark's bottles are seeing an increase in online sales, including Dunkertons Cider, Saltaire Brewery and BrewDog.

Dunkertons Cider in Gloucester uses amber beer bottles from Beatson Clark and has seen a 1,100% increase in sales of bottled cider advertised via social media and through the company's new online shop.

Saltaire Brewery has introduced a delivery service for their beers across West Yorkshire using Beatson Clark's 330ml and 500ml amber bottles and is hoping to expand deliveries to the rest of the UK soon.

The brewery reports that the delivery service has been so successful it may continue deliveries if there is still demand even after the lockdown is lifted.

Meanwhile BrewDog, which is a long-standing customer of Beatson Clark, has also reported an increase in online sales since the start of the lockdown.

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News: Bespoke bottle boosts sales

The UK's best-selling kombucha tea is now being sold in new bespoke glass bottles made by Rotherham glass manufacturer Beatson Clark.

Equinox Organic Kombucha is a fermented tea craft-brewed in the Calder Valley in West Yorkshire from Chun-Mee green tea, raw cane sugar, spring water and kombucha culture.

Having started life seven years ago as one of the first kombucha breweries in the UK, parent company Flower of Life is now one of the largest kombucha producers in Europe.

To reflect the growth of the business Managing Director Daniel Spayne decided on a packaging rebrand and approached Beatson Clark for a bespoke bottle design.

The Greasborough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

Flower of Life is in the process of becoming a Certified B Corp – a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit – and was keen to ensure its rebrand helped to protect the environment.

"We'd been discussing the concept of a bespoke bottle with Beatson Clark for a while," said Daniel. "We wanted a more reliable supplier closer to home because we put the environment at the centre of everything we do.

"As part of the rebrand we wanted to update the packaging that we had – it was perfect for the small-scale business selling at markets but it wasn't suitable for a national roll-out.

"We've updated the packaging to be more in line with what consumers are looking for today, and because Beatson Clark in South Yorkshire is only 40 miles away from our site in Hebden Bridge they fitted the bill perfectly."

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The new 275ml white flint bottle is shorter than the old bottle and Beatson Clark showed flexibility to get the firm's label on the bottles which contain more than 35% recycled glass.

Early signs are that the packaging rebrand is having a positive effect on sales.

"We're very pleased with the new bottle," said Daniel. "We're a high-growth business and we’re seeing an increase in sales thanks to the new branding and the continuing growth of the kombucha market."

Chris Palmer, Business Development Manager at Beatson Clark, added: "We were very pleased to be asked to design and manufacture this new bespoke bottle for Equinox Organic Kombucha.

"The company had been using a standard bottle imported from overseas and they were looking for a UK manufacturer closer to home. After a number of discussions about their packaging rebrand their design agency sent us a concept to work from.

"It's a good example of how a creative collaboration can produce a stylish bespoke design which can really improve shelf appeal and boost sales."

Equinox Organic Kombucha is available in Waitrose, Holland & Barrett, the Co-operative and Abel & Cole organic food delivery.

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News: Teas made distinctive by Beatson Clark bottle

An apothecary bottle from Rotherham manufacturer Beatson Clark has been chosen to provide a distinctive look for a new range of kombucha fermented teas.

Thanks to glass packaging specialists Rawlings and manufacturer Beatson Clark, LA Brewery's range of flavoured kombucha teas is now on sale in an eye-catching clear pharmaceutical bottle.

The Greasborough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

Through Rawlings, Beatson Clark is supplying a 300ml white flint Alpha Sirop bottle from its apothecary range.

Louise Avery, founder of LA Brewery, said: "I have been dealing with Rawlings since 2016 and was confident in their ability as a packaging specialist to find the right bottle for my brand.

"Their consultative approach means they took the time to understand my business and were able to present bottles from multiple sources that would help differentiate our packaging and maximise shelf appeal. One of the bottles they advised on was the Alpha Sirop from Beatson Clark's range.

"It's a higher end bottle which achieves that mix of being slightly medicinal and also rather grown up. Most standard soft drinks bottles have a long neck, but with this bottle the short neck takes you into a different space.

"With the branding we've created something that can sit alongside both soft and alcoholic drinks in the pub and still look comfortable. It's designed to bridge that gap."

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Mark Carroll, account manager at Rawlings, said: "One of the biggest complexities is that kombucha ferments in the bottle, so the correct container selection is critical.

"Independent testing was carried out to ensure the container was fit for LA Brewery's bottling process."

Louise started making kombucha fermented tea in her kitchen in Hackney six years ago and sold it through cafés in her neighbourhood.

Charlotte Taylor, marketing manager at Beatson Clark, said: "Our apothecary range of pharmaceutical bottles look great on the shelf and they can give a drinks brand a really distinctive, vintage look.

"We're pleased to say that the range is becoming more and more popular with our customers, particularly for artisan spirits such as flavoured gins.

"Customers can even have these bottles embossed with their own name, logo or design, and the resulting bottle will still cost much less than a bespoke container that we've designed for them."

Beatson Clark's apothecary range was originally designed as pharmaceutical containers for medicines and tonics, and their vintage look and unusual shapes mean they give a new craft spirits brand a distinctive, retro appearance.

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News: Beatson Clark preserve top reputation

Folláin Preserves, a premium Irish food producer, intends to go global after working with Rotherham-based Beatson Clark to rebrand its glass packaging.

Founded in 1983, the County Cork based company, which produces a wide range of high-end, home-made food products, decided to overhaul its current packaging and approached Beatson Clark for a bespoke solution.

The Greasbrough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide. Experts worked with Folláin's marketing team to design and produce a 330ml jar. The curved square jar will be used for Folláin's range of preserves, pickles and relishes.

Folláin – which is the Irish word for wholesome – predominantly sells its products into the Irish market but wanted to grow its sales in Europe, and felt the time had come to replace its standard glass jar with something more unique and premium in look and feel.

Laura Hewson, marketing and sales manager at Folláin Preserves, said: "We are a premium brand, and we wanted our packaging to reflect that with something unique to us. The standard jar we were using didn't represent the quality of the contents within.

"Our aim was to create a vintage and old fashioned-style jar, which would become a collectable, encouraging customers to reuse and recycle them. With support from the team at Beatson Clark, we have managed to achieve just that.

"We worked with Beatson from design right through to the final production run. We spoke to lots of glass manufacturers, but Beatson Clark demonstrated their credibility to work with a brand of our size and their competency in terms of capacity, design specification and size of the project."

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The jar has a deep twist-off neck and has been finished with a simple and clean-looking label.

Dean Arey, design engineer at Beatson Clark, worked with Folláin to design a pack which would allow them to take their brand to the next level.

"Rebrands of this size are often critical to the development of a brand, so it was important for us to achieve a design which Folláin felt would elevate their position in the European market," said Dean.

"With a major packaging overhaul of this size, developing the concept is as critical as the quality of the finished product. We have found that many companies of Folláin's size approach us as their packaging partner for rebrands because we have design and manufacture capabilities in house and are able to work with them on every aspect of the project over the medium and long term.

"We firmly believe taking a flexible approach makes us the go-to glass manufacturer for rebrands. We are able to give customers something completely bespoke, which, in an ultra-competitive food and drink market, is very important."

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News: Beatson Clark gives generously to Rotherham hospices

Carers at two Rotherham hospices are celebrating after each received a generous donation from Beatson Clark, one of the town's oldest businesses.

The glass manufacturer, which has been making glass bottles and jars on Greasbrough Road since 1751, has donated £6,000 each Rotherham Hospice and Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice.

The money will go towards the day-to-day running costs of the two hospices.

Rotherham Hospice on Broom Road provides care for people with illnesses and people nearing the end of their life, while Bluebell Wood cares for children and young adults facing a terminal illness, both in their own homes and at the hospice in North Anston.

Daniel Wales, events and community fundraiser at Rotherham Hospice, said: "Rotherham Hospice provides vital care for anyone with a life-limiting illness within the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham.

"Whether this is here at the hospice or via our Hospice at Home services, we are there for those who need us the most. All our services are completely free of charge and to keep caring for people we need to raise £2.7m a year.

"This is why we are forever grateful to companies such as Beatson Clark for their generous donations and support which enable us to continue providing this vital care and making a real difference to people's lives."

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Helen Mower, head of fundraising at Bluebell Wood, said: "We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone at Beatson Clark for all their support.

"At Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, we care for children with life-shortening and life-threatening conditions and their families. We’re supporting hundreds of families throughout South Yorkshire and beyond, and this fantastic amount helps these families to live with love and laughter and make every moment count, however long they have left together."

Lynn Sidebottom, director of sales and marketing at Beatson Clark, presented the two cheques.

"Everyone knows Beatson Clark in Rotherham and we're always looking for new ways to give something back to the community," said Lynn.

"Following a successful year for the company our owner John Newman wanted to donate some of our profits to worthwhile local charities as well as investing more into the business during 2019.

"These hospices are such a worthy cause and their work benefits us all. We couldn't be happier to make these donations and we look forward to continuing our close partnership with Rotherham Hospice and Bluebell Wood in the future."

Beatson Clark first manufactured glass containers for medicines in Rotherham back in 1751. Now it has a turnover of £50m, employs approximately 350 people in the town and makes glass containers for food, drinks and pharmaceutical brands in the UK and all over the world.

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News: Virtual reality helps historic manufacturer

Historic glass manufacturer Beatson Clark has commissioned a 3D virtual model of its Rotherham factory to help new recruits and others understand the glass-making process.

The Greasbrough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

Working with virtual reality experts, VRMT a new training system has been developed to help staff with training to operate complex production machines.

It is hard for staff to get inside the process. The furnace must be capable of reaching 1,600 degrees centigrade and the working temperature of the molten glass mixture is approximately 1,100 degrees centigrade.

The training program recreates a lifelike 3D virtual model of the factory and allows new IS machine operators to fully understand the bottle forming process and identify faults.

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Trevor Phillips, production and engineering director at Beatson Clark, said: "We have been working closely with VRMT for several months to develop the program, which is the first of its kind to be used by a glass manufacturer anywhere in the world.

"Trying to learn the glass forming process from a book, or even on the shop floor, is difficult because the trainee cannot see exactly what is happening, so it takes quite a while to grasp.

"Because the virtual machine is highly visual the trainee becomes immersed in the program –rather like when you're engrossed in a good movie – and it becomes easier to recall what has happened.

"Currently the VR program is training machine operators, but in future we can also use it to provide detailed refresher training for existing staff."

Tony Pawinski from VRMT added: "Trevor showed great vision in the early days and immediately saw the future potential of VR for revolutionising IS training, not just for machine operators new and old but also for a whole raft of personnel who are indirectly involved with the production of glass containers."

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The VR setup will also be used as an engaging tool at upcoming trade shows. Beatson Clark will be exhibiting once again at BrauBeviale, the world's leading exhibition for the beverage production process chain, in Nuremberg, Germany this week.

The company will also be showcasing its spirits bottles and packaging service at the Spirits Packaging Summit at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh.

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News: Beatson Clark eager to help with first glass bottle drinks range

The flexible service and centuries of experience at Rotherham manufacturer, Beatson Clark, has proved to be the winning formula for premium soft drinks company Eager Drinks.

The Greasbrough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

Eager, founded in 2007, approached Beatson Clark last year to help them package their first glass bottle drinks range. All of Eager's other soft drinks, including its signature cloudy apple juice, are packaged using cardboard.

Beatson Clark has just finished its production run for over 200,000 new and unique glass bottles for Eager Drinks' new mixer range – Cold Brew Tonics.

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Ed Rigg, founder of Eager Drinks, said: "Owing to the fact that Cold Brew Tonics is our first range packaged using glass, we had strict criteria for its look, feel and quality to ensure it was in keeping with our brand and commitment on sustainability.

"We wanted a bottle which used recycled glass in some way and wanted it to look contemporary and modern yet traditional to the touch. We didn't want an off-the-shelf design. We wanted a bottle which was going to make an impression in a competitive market.

"Beaton Clark's approach matched our vision. In terms of flexibility, service and quality, they win every time compared to competitors in the UK and abroad."

Working closely with Eager Drinks, Beatson Clark designed and produced a unique 200ml white flint glass bottle. The brief was to produce a container which looked modern and contemporary but had a traditional and vintage feel to it.

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Jonathan Clark, account manager at Beatson Clark, said: "It's been a pleasure to work with the Eager team from concept right through to production. As Ed has found out, what we offer in terms of service is only matched by the quality of the product we make.

"For an established drinks company entering the competitive mixer market for the first time, the packaging is just as important as the quality of what's inside. The drinks are different to anything else on the market owing to the unique production process, and the packaging reflects that."

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Eager Drinks website

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News: Monks see the light with Beatson Clark amber beer bottle

Rotherham glass manufacturer Beatson Clark has a heritage dating back centuries, so it's appropriate that the company has been chosen to supply bottles to the first monastery to brew beer in the UK since the days of Henry VIII.

The Greasborough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

Monks at Mount Saint Bernard Abbey near Coalville in Leicestershire have become the first in the UK to brew an officially recognised Trappist beer – and their brewery is one of just 12 in the world to earn the name "Trappist."

Beatson Clark is supplying 330ml amber beer bottles from its general sale range to the brewery, along with green crown closures which feature the brewery's logo printed in white.

The beer is called Tynt Meadow and is named after the meadow where the monks originally settled in 1835 and is on sale at the abbey and in specialist beer shops.

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The monks started planning their new brewery in 2013 after they closed down their economically unviable dairy farm.

Beer brewed by monks was common in England in the Middle Ages but the practice died out after the dissolution of the monasteries during the Reformation by Henry VIII.

Trappist beers must be brewed within the abbey by the monks or under their supervision, and brewing must be secondary in importance to the monastery's work and way of life.

A Trappist brewery must not make profits, but rather the proceeds should go towards the monks' living expenses and grounds and to help charitable causes.

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Jonathan Clark, Account Manager at Beatson Clark, said: "This is a historic and very exciting development for lovers of traditional beer and Beatson Clark was really pleased to have been asked to supply the bottles for this new beer.

"We recommended the amber glass beer bottle from our standard range because of its traditional appearance and because amber glass protects the beer inside the bottle from the harmful effects of UV light."

Father Erik Varden, Abbot of Mount Saint Bernard, added: "We chose Beatson Clark because they were able to provide the shape of bottle we wanted. Our dealings with the company have been very happy so far; we have found their service very good and their communication prompt, courteous, and effective."

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News: Beatson Clark's small and stylish solution for M&S

Marks and Spencer (M&S) own-brand salad dressings are now being sold in smaller, more stylish bottles made in Rotherham by Beatson Clark after research showed that consumers found themselves throwing too much dressing away.

The Greasbrough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

English Provender Company (EPC) conducted research for M&S which found that customers thought the existing salad dressing bottle was too big. As a result they often threw away the unfinished product when they felt it had passed its use-by date, creating unnecessary waste.

They also wanted a bottle that would look attractive on the dinner table and offer greater control when pouring; although a beautiful design, the existing bottle (a bespoke embossed 275ml dressing bottle) was quite large and the neck was too wide, making it difficult to control the pour and portion control of some of the salad dressings.

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EPC and M&S asked Beatson Clark;s in-house design team to create a new bottle which would respond to this customer feedback while also taking into account technical considerations such as line constraints and fill speeds.

The resulting 235ml container is a smaller stand-out artisan bottle with a narrower neck which allows consumers to control the flow of dressing more easily.

Kevin Vyse, lead packaging technologist at M&S, said: "Our new dressing bottle looks small but substantial and was designed following extensive testing to make sure it fits into the average fridge door much more easily than its predecessor, as well as being easier to pour from.

"With its minimalist and simple design the new bottle looks very different to anything else on the market at present. The clear glass, which contains on average 30% recycled material, lets the consumer see the product within and gives the quality feel we were looking for."

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The salad dressings EPC makes for M&S all have very different textures, and some are thinner than others, so all the recipes were tested at ambient and fridge temperatures to ensure that they poured easily.

Lynn Sidebottom, sales and marketing director at Beatson Clark, said: "We were delighted to be asked to create this new dressing bottle for M&S on behalf of our long-standing clients English Provender Company.

"Our technical innovation and our flexibility are two of our strengths and everyone is really pleased with the finished container."

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