The French glass manufacturer Verallia plans to close its long-standing production site in Essen-Karnap, a move closely linked to declining demand from the brewing industry. Around 310 employees are affected by the decision, which was communicated to staff on February 18 and reportedly came as a surprise.
While the plant manufactures various glass packaging products, its core business in Essen has been beer bottles. The company justified the planned shutdown with falling demand for glass packaging and an adjustment of production capacities across Europe. A decisive factor appears to be the loss of significant orders from breweries.
Germany’s beer market has been under sustained pressure for years, with per-capita consumption steadily declining (inside.beer, 2.2.2026) and total output falling not only domestically but also in key neighboring export markets. For bottle manufacturers, this structural downturn translates directly into reduced volumes and growing overcapacity. The Essen site had supplied bottles to well-known beer brands such as Veltins, Krombacher, and Paulaner, underlining its close integration into the national brewing supply chain.
Verallia, which serves around 10,000 customers worldwide, described the move as part of a broader European capacity review. The closure could reportedly take effect as early as the end of March 2026, although a final timeline has not yet been confirmed.
Thomas Kufen, Mayor of Essen, called the planned shutdown a severe blow to the city’s industrial base. The municipality announced cooperation with the local economic development agency to support affected employees and explore future prospects for the location. Talks with the works council and management are expected shortly.
For the brewing industry in western Germany, the closure would not only mark the end of more than a century of glass production at the site, but also highlight how declining beer consumption is increasingly reshaping upstream suppliers in the beverage value chain.
