Spanish glass packaging group Vidrala has completed the acquisition of 100% of Chilean glass manufacturer Cristalerías Toro, known as Cristoro, for an enterprise value of EUR 75m (USD 84m) including assumed debt. The business has been renamed Vidrala Chile and gives the group its first production base in South America, after more than 70 years as an independent family company. Vidrala said net debt will remain at around 0.5 times annual EBITDA following the deal.
Why this mattersVidrala gains its first South American production base and takes out an independent Chilean producer, extending European glassmakers' consolidation of regional capacity.
- Vidrala acquired 100% of Cristalerías Toro's share capital for an enterprise value of EUR 75m (USD 84m), including assumed debt.
- The target is renamed Vidrala Chile, ending more than 70 years of Cristoro as an independent glass packaging brand.
- Cristalerías Toro generated sales of USD 79.915m and adjusted EBITDA of USD 13.216m last year.
- Vidrala said its net debt will remain at around 0.5 times annual EBITDA after the acquisition.
- Cristoro supplies glass packaging to the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and household-goods segments in Chile and export markets.
- Vidrala CEO Raúl Gómez said the group will deploy its glassmaking model in Chile and recognise the Toro family's industrial legacy.
Vidrala has merged its two Portuguese container glass plants, formerly Gallo Vidro and Santos Barosa, into a single operating brand, Vidrala Marinha. The combined site in Marinha Grande employs 900 people and produces 2.6 billion glass containers a year, with shared production, logistics and fleet.
Why this mattersConsolidating separate legacy brands into one operating identity signals Vidrala is streamlining regional structures to cut duplication and present a unified offer to customers.
- Vidrala Marinha combines the former Gallo Vidro and Santos Barosa plants in Marinha Grande, Portugal
- The two sites become Vidrala Marinha Norte and Vidrala Marinha Sul respectively
- Combined workforce totals 900 employees
- Annual production capacity is 2.6 billion glass containers
- Victor Tolosa is Vidrala's general manager for Europe
Encirc, the glass container maker owned by Vidrala, is investing more than USD 928,000 (GBP 700,000) over three years to retrain staff at its Derrylin site in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The programme is part-funded by a USD 208,300 (GBP 157,200) grant from Invest NI and covers low-carbon engineering, alternative fuels, digital tools and leadership as the site targets net-zero glass manufacturing from 2030.
Why this mattersThe investment signals how glassmakers are pairing decarbonisation targets with workforce retraining to secure the skills base needed for lower-carbon production.
- Encirc is investing more than USD 928,000 (GBP 700,000) over three years in skills development at its Derrylin, Fermanagh site.
- Invest NI is providing a USD 208,300 (GBP 157,200) grant towards the three-year training plan.
- Encirc produces approximately three billion glass containers annually for brands across the UK.
- The training covers leadership development, low-carbon engineering, alternative fuels, digital and data skills, and AI awareness.
- Encirc is targeting net-zero emissions in its glass manufacturing process from 2030.
- A new 'One Horizon Programme' for continuous leadership development has been introduced as part of the plan.
Encirc Glass, the container glass producer owned by Vidrala, has filed a planning application with Cheshire West and Chester Council for a new automated warehouse and despatch building at its Elton site in Cheshire. The facility would measure 200m by 82m and 44m high with 12 crane aisles, and is expected to create 16 full-time jobs. Elton already produces around 2.2 billion glass bottles a year and employs more than 900 staff plus 130 contractors.
Why this mattersAutomated despatch at a plant making 2.2 billion bottles a year lifts throughput and buffer capacity without adding furnace or forming capacity.
- Encirc Glass has filed a planning application with Cheshire West and Chester Council for a new automated warehouse at its Elton site
- The proposed building would measure 200m by 82m and 44m high, with 12 crane aisles, on a 25,329sqm site
- The project is expected to create 16 full-time jobs
- Elton produces around 2.2 billion glass bottles a year and employs more than 900 staff plus 130 contractors
- Encirc is owned by Vidrala and also operates sites in Bristol and Northern Ireland
- The application comprises a 180,826 sq ft high-bay warehouse, a 60,117 sq ft dispatch facility and mezzanine office space, filed under reference 26/02766/FUL.
- Demolition of legacy buildings at Elton began in December 2025 and is due to finish in October 2026.
- A separate 657,000 sq ft expansion at Elton, developed with Diageo, was consented in August 2023.
- AEW is the architect and Lichfields the planning advisor on the application.
Encirc, the glass container and bottling group owned by Vidrala, has appointed Jonathan Culley as Commercial Director. Culley, who previously worked at Rankin Brothers, Verallia and Bacardi, joins as Rob Turvey retires at the end of 2026 after 14 years as Sales and Marketing Director.
Why this mattersTurvey's retirement after 14 years hands commercial terms on roughly 3 billion Encirc containers a year to an executive drawn from Verallia and Bacardi.
- Jonathan Culley joins Encirc as Commercial Director with over 20 years in drinks, packaging and FMCG, including roles at Rankin Brothers, Verallia and Bacardi.
- Rob Turvey retires at the end of 2026 after 14 years as Encirc's Sales and Marketing Director.
- Encirc employs almost 2,000 staff across three sites: Derrylin (Co Fermanagh), Elton (Cheshire) and Bristol.
- Encirc produces around 3 billion glass bottles and containers annually and can fill up to 500 million litres of bulk shipped beverages per year.
- Encirc is part of the Vidrala Group.
Vidrala reported first-half 2026 revenue of EUR 754m, down 3.8 percent organically, while EBITDA rose 4.4 percent to EUR 225.5m, lifting the margin 110 basis points to 29.9 percent. The glass packaging maker raised its 2026 dividend by 15 percent and expanded its buyback programme to up to 3 percent of share capital, a maximum of EUR 90m, with net debt at EUR 252m, 0.6 times EBITDA.
Why this mattersMargin gains despite falling volumes show glass packagers passing through cost control even as demand softens, supporting continued shareholder distributions.
- H1 2026 revenue was EUR 754m, with organic revenue down 3.8 percent at constant exchange rates and scope.
- EBITDA rose 4.4 percent to EUR 225.5m, lifting the EBITDA margin to 29.9 percent, up 110 basis points year on year.
- The share buyback programme was expanded to up to 3 percent of share capital, capped at EUR 90m.
- The 2026 dividend increased 15 percent, with total payments above EUR 62m.
- Net debt was EUR 252m at end-June 2026, a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 0.6 times.
- Earnings per share were EUR 3.36 for the first half.
