The history of Holden’s Bottling Company

Edwin Holden’s Bottling Company was established in 1943 and has gone on to provide a continuous quality contract bottling and contract canning service to the UK brewing and drinks industries.

1943

Founding

  • Samuel Hammond and Ted Holden establish Edwin Holden’s Bottling Co Ltd.
  • The company begins supplying ales to local RAF bases, as traditional cask ale wasn’t keeping well.
  • Bottling becomes the solution, providing consistency and extended shelf life.
Holden's Bottling back in the past

1950s

Expansion

  • Started co-packing for small local breweries, including:
    • Bathams
    • Simpkiss
  • Began packaging for larger national brands, most notably Manns Brown Ale.
  • Briggs machine installed, becoming a key part of production operations.
Holden's Bottling back in the 50s and 60s

1960s

Guinness Partnership and Leadership Change

  • Contract packaging for Guinness begins, receiving deliveries from Park Royal, London, and conditioning the product on-site.
  • 1966 – Samuel Hammond passes away.
  • Paul Hammond ends his brewing apprenticeship at Phipps in Northampton early to carry on in his father’s footsteps.

1980s

Growth and Modernization

A new warehouse is built to support the expanding packaging operations.

1996

Industry Challenges

Industrial strike severely impacts the company

2008

Changing Packaging Trends

The company transitions from returnable bottles to non-returnable glass due to the declining stock of returnable glass and retailers’ unwillingness to sort bottles.

2009

New Leadership

Mark Hammond, Paul’s son, joins the business after graduating from university.

2010

Expansion to Soft Drinks

  • Started to fill soft drinks, expanding beyond alcoholic beverages.
  • Final packaging run of Manns Brown Ale (MBA) after nearly 60 years.
  • The recession leads brand owner Marston’s to bring production in-house.
british soft drinks association

2010s

Modernisation Era

  • Progressive rebuilding of the packaging line, including:
    • New KOSME PSL 3-station labeller
    • Print and apply barcoder
    • Baumer tray packer
    • Kawasaki palletising robot cell

2017

Adapting to Market Trends

Installed a small keg plant to accommodate the changing market.

2017/18

Infrastructure Expansion

  • New building constructed to house a new pasteuriser.
  • Briggs machine (dating back to the 1950s) removed from production.

2018

CO2 Crisis

During the industry-wide CO2 crisis, which brought the sector to its knees, Edwin Holden’s Bottling Co Ltd made the news, showcasing resilience during the challenging time.

2019

Significant Investments and Loss

  • Paul Hammond passes away after a long battle with MND.
  • Purchased a Pentair BMF, the biggest single leap forward in product quality, enhancing stability and DO (dissolved oxygen) control.
  • Installed KOSME tri-block filler and crowner, modernizing the filling and sealing process.

2020 – 2022

The COVID Era

  • Life changed for everyone, and lockdowns created unprecedented shifts in demand.
  • Demand surged, and the company worked incredibly hard to service the needs of its clients despite the challenges.

2020 Onward

Continued Investments

  • Major upgrades to packaging operations, replacing the packaging machine and palletiser with Robopac machines.
  • Commitment to efficiency, automation, and long-term business sustainability.

2023

80th Anniversary Celebration

Celebrated 80 years of trading with clients, suppliers, friends, and family at the Black Country Living Museum (BCLM).

2024

Expansion and Innovation

  • Purchased the first canning machine to service both the can and bottle market.
    • Initially integrated into the bottling line, but demand soon outstripped supply.
    • Began building a standalone canning line to support the expanding market.
    • Built a second warehouse to cater for increasing volume and storage needs

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