UK Bottle Supply Fears Grow Amid Encirc Strike Dispute

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7 April 2026

The Drinks Business is reporting that there may be a risk of disruption to the UK drinks supply chain because workers at Encirc’s Elton glass plant, which supplies bottles for major brands and supermarket wines, have announced further strike dates in April and May after planned job cuts of nearly 30 roles. Unite argues this could hit bottle availability and potentially lead to shortages in the coming months.

It also says the dispute is tied to worker concerns about staffing levels, fatigue, and health and safety, though Encirc rejects those claims. The article adds a wider industry angle, noting that high energy costs and pressure on raw materials are already making bottles more expensive, which could worsen strain on the sector.

Encirc’s position is that there will not be a UK bottle shortage. The company says it has contingency plans in place, that its operations are risk assessed, and that the glass industry is already under pressure from weaker demand, high energy costs, and UK policy changes such as Extended Producer Responsibility.

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