Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
Which label suppliers do members recommend for glass bottles, and what are their contact details?
Members recommend several reliable label suppliers for glass bottles with competitive pricing: - **MCC** — frequently recommended by multiple members - **Label Apeel** — noted as having done "quite a bit of work with other Kindreds" - **Berkshire Labels** — established supplier in the network - **Vale Labels** — used by at least one member - **Reflex** (contact: saral@reflexlabelplus.co.uk) — praised for competitive pricing ("a little cheaper than Berkshire") and responsiveness; Sara at Reflex is noted as "awesome" and has helped members with tight deadlines Members suggest tendering across these suppliers to compare pricing and capability for front, back, and neck labels on glass bottles.
Where can UK drinks producers source packaging stock like bottles, corks, and cans from other producers or suppliers?
Members have identified several specific sources for secondary packaging stock, both from industry liquidations and specialist suppliers: **Stock clearance opportunities:** - **Brittains closure stock** — One member had 100,000 corks available (40mm x 12mm, dark wood, natural cork shank 18.5mm, made for herbalist bottles) sourced from Brittains' closure - **Brew and Bottle liquidation** — 100k x 150ml cans available from this company going into liquidation - **Peer-to-peer sourcing** — Members regularly post urgent needs (e.g., 35cl personalised bottles for Christmas orders, 20ml/25ml bottles, white flint Kelfa Apotheker or Herbalist 70cl bottles) in the group; sometimes other members have surplus stock to offload **Specialist packaging suppliers:** - **Propak** — Recommended for branded items like jiggers - **Xilong** (Far East option; +86 182 5869 2627, http://www.xilong-glass.com) — Used occasionally for minis and first runs of new SKUs due to cheap set-up costs. However, members warned that quality control is poor (bottle variance/tolerance greater than European suppliers), bottles often arrive dirty, fill levels vary, payment is upfront (poor cash flow vs. UK terms), and shipping delays eliminate cost savings unless budget allows air freight. Rachel is the contact. Members noted they've since moved all formats back to UK production. **Service providers offering contract solutions:** - **Gorilla Spirits** (near Basingstoke; https://gorillaspirits.co.uk/contract-distilling-bottling/) — Offers production and contract bottling capacity Members emphasise: always check the Kindred group first for liquidation stock and peer offers before placing orders elsewhere. Far East sourcing has hidden costs and cash-flow penalties that often outweigh initial price savings.
Where can we source tamper-proof seals and heat-shrink caps for spirits bottles?
Members recommend reaching out directly within the community for supplier contacts, as several people have established relationships with tamper-proof seal and heat-shrink cap providers. **Direct peer introductions** — Multiple members indicated they have good contacts for tamper-proof seals and heat-shrink cap styles. The recommended approach is to message these members directly for introductions. **Existing inventory** — Members occasionally have surplus glass, stoppers, and heat-shrink supplies available from previous large-volume purchases, which can be sourced at cost-plus pricing. These are typically held in warehouse stock (e.g. Midlands-based distribution) and sold by the pallet. Note: The discussion suggests **Bobbins and Berlin** was a previous supplier option, but members indicated this source no longer has adequate stock or suitable replacements, which is why alternative sourcing became necessary.
Where can wine bottle closures (shrink capsules and Vinolok) be sourced, particularly in the UK?
Members are actively seeking alternatives to traditional suppliers due to price pressures. **Bruni** has recently increased prices by 25%, prompting searches for other PVC/PET shrink capsule manufacturers. **Seven Tails** closures are sourced through **La Martiniques** in France, where they are assembled; this supplier offers competitive pricing on bulk orders due to aggregated buying across multiple brand labels. For **Vinolok** closures specifically, members have mentioned sourcing from **Berlin** (likely referring to a German supplier, though details are limited). **Prowein** (the trade show) has been referenced as a venue where members have made valuable supplier connections and visited facilities. For logistics support, **Hillebrand** (contact: diana.estelanecochea@hillebrandgori.com) has been used successfully for international shipments, including samples to Italy and shipments to Dubai, at approximately £100 for 2 × 70cl bottles from London. **UPS** is another option members have used for sample shipments. Members suggest coordinating shipment costs with peers attending Prowein to split shipping expenses.
What design agencies and designers do members recommend for rebranding and packaging projects?
Members recommend several designers and agencies with direct experience in drinks rebranding and packaging: - **WeLaunch** (Stuart Lang) — recommended for rebrand and packaging work; members note they're also happy to provide introductions - **Aitch Creates** (harry@aitchcreates.com, https://aitchcreates.com/portfolio/) — designer recommended by members - **Buddy Creative** (mark@buddycreative.com, https://buddycreative.com) — noted as "worth a shout" - **Max Agace** (http://www.maxagace.com) — highly rated ("👌🏼") For relabelling services on existing stock (e.g. cans), members also mention **Codex Solutions** — described as "very flexible" for ad hoc duty-paid relabelling work, and **WeLaunch** can facilitate introductions to relabelling suppliers. No detailed pricing or lead-time information was shared in the discussion.
Which label printers do members recommend for UK drinks packaging?
Members recommend several reputable label printers with direct contacts: - **Reflex Labels** — described as "awesome" and going "over and above". Contact: Sara Lane, saral@reflexlabelplus.co.uk, 07736 925860 - **Eclipse** — praised as "great" - **Berkshire Labels** — described as "decent". Contact: raluca.balcanu@berkshirelabels.co.uk These are the suppliers members have had direct positive experience with and are willing to recommend to peers.
Where can we source synthetic wood-effect cork closures when facing supply shortages?
Members are experiencing cork supply constraints and have identified a key supplier to contact. **Rankin James** is recommended as a top-3 cork supplier and has been suggested as a starting point for sourcing synthetic wood-effect corks, including 19.5mm options. Members suggest reaching out to Rankin James first when facing availability issues, though no other specific alternative suppliers were named in the discussion. The community is actively problem-solving on this—if you have surplus stock (e.g. brown wood cork stoppers in specific dimensions), members are willing to buy from each other as a workaround during shortages.
Which suppliers offer small-run customised wooden gift boxes for spirits brands?
Members have successfully sourced small-run customised wooden gift boxes through specialist suppliers. For runs as small as 25 units: - **Wine Box Company (WBC)** — www.wbc.co.uk — noted as having no minimum order requirement, making them suitable for small-batch orders. - **Custom engraving service** — Members have also used independent engravers who will work on boxes you've already purchased and send to them, offering flexibility if you source blanks elsewhere. When approaching suppliers for small quantities, be clear about your run size upfront (e.g., 25 units) to confirm they can accommodate. Members recommend checking lead times before committing.
Where can I source branded champagne stoppers and custom bottle accessories?
Members recommend **Birchgrove Products** (https://www.birchgrove.co.uk/) for branded champagne stoppers and custom bottle accessories. Contact Dinah or Neville at the company—they have experience producing Harrods-branded accessories and similar custom items.
Where can you source good-quality generic cardboard bottle boxes in wholesale quantities?
Members recommend **Nuttall Packaging** (based in Manchester) as a reliable source for simple, generic cardboard bottle boxes in wholesale quantities at good value. They handle the type of off-the-shelf, bulk orders (e.g., 12-bottle cases) that small producers typically need.