Verallia plans plants closures, job cuts as European glass bottle demand falls

Verallia SA

17/02/2026 17:26

PARIS, Feb 17 (Reuters) - French glass bottle maker Verallia VRLA.PA said on Tuesday it has started a business review that may result in plant closures and up to 360 job cuts across three European countries.

Sites in Germany, France and Britain could be shut down as part of an effort to adjust production capacity in Europe, the company said in a statement.

Verallia, which makes bottles for champagne and cognac among other beverages, attributed the move to subdued demand for glass bottles, particularly in Germany. The company also said it planned to restart a furnace in Leeds, England.

"This decline in volumes is the result of weaker demand linked to reduced alcohol consumption in Europe (-4% since 2019), combined with increased pressure on certain export flows for our customers, particularly to the United States and Asia," the group said.

 (Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten)

 ((gianluca.lonostro@thomsonreuters.com;))