Ask the Collective

What are the recommended UK contract packers and bottlers for different production volumes?

Members have shared experience with several contract packing and bottling operations across different capacity ranges. **Mid-to-large volume operators:** - **Contract Bottlers Glasgow** — confirmed smooth shipping and operation by members - **RSM Solutions** — recommended as an option - **Brittains** — listed as a recommended provider - **Mallows Distillery** (Cardiff) — described as good operators **Specialist operators for smaller pilot runs and craft scales:** - **Liquid Fusion Group** — recommended for batch, fill, pasteurisation and carbonation in glass bottles for non-alcoholic products. Contact: Ed@liquidfusiongroup.com. Described as "super useful and nice guy with tons of experience." Members report they handle multiple SKUs across a product range, though some have noted "sticking points" with certain formats. **High-volume minimum runs:** - One member's family operation can handle contract manufacture but requires 20,000L+ runs per SKU minimum, so only suitable for significant scale-up. **Key considerations:** Volume requirements vary significantly by provider—clarify your pilot run size (1–2k L initially, scaling to 5k+) before approaching, as some operators have minimum thresholds. Members recommend contacting providers directly to discuss format compatibility, as even experienced packers may have constraints with certain bottle formats or specifications.