UCP plans to make multi-million investment to drive customer brand protection and international sales
United Closures and Plastics (UCP) is planning a multi-million pound investment over the next two years to develop the next generation of its bottle and security closures for the global spirits industry at its site in Bridge of Allan, Scotland.
These new closures will help spirits brands to protect their products from the growing global counterfeit trade in spirits which can lead to public health, reputational and financial risks
Scottish Enterprise is supporting the project with an R&D grant of £1.5 million to assist the development of these new products and accelerate getting these to market. This grant is part of the integrated assistance from Scottish Enterprise designed to maximise UCP’s growth opportunities.
The company’s bespoke Scottish Enterprise account team is led by an account manager and comprises advisors and specialists from a range of business areas such as workplace innovation, Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service and Scottish Development International.
As a result of the investment, the company plans to create up to 49 new jobs to bolster the existing 300 staff employed at the Scottish facility, strengthening Scotland’s reputation as a location for food and drink R&D excellence.
The news was announced during a visit this morning to UCP’s Bridge of Allan manufacturing site by Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution to meet the team leading the innovation project.
Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, said: “It is great to meet UCP’s innovation team here in Bridge of Allan as the company sets out its ambitious plans for future growth. The company is making a substantial investment in a new line of products that will help address the global issue of counterfeit products in the food and drink industry. It represents an excellent example of innovation in the food and drink supply chain and will hopefully lead to increased international sales.
“The company is also making the Scottish Business Pledge – our partnership to build stronger businesses and a fairer Scotland in which successful innovation is a key feature – and I would like to congratulate UCP’s team on both their pledge and their exciting plans for the future.”
Adrian Gillespie, managing director at Scottish Enterprise, said: “Research tells us that innovative companies are twice as likely to grow and three times more likely to export successfully. Increasing Scotland’s business innovation is critical to our long term economic success. UCP is showing how investing in R&D can open up exciting new international revenue streams and I wish them every success with the project.”
David Richardson, Managing Director at UCP, commented: “This is a very exciting time for our business as we are using innovation in design and materials to protect our existing customers’ brands worldwide and grow our customer base globally. Working with Keith Brown, our local MSP who initially saw the potential in our intellectual property and our Scottish Enterprise account team has helped reinforce and support our investment plans.”
For over 70 years, UCP has served the world’s leading spirit producers by supplying a full range of closures from everyday aluminium screw caps to high security anti-counterfeiting and tamper-evident fitments which require precision assembly including Non-Refillable fitments - which are designed and manufactured to meet the highest quality standards. UCP’s reputation as centre of excellence within its parent group, RPC, continues with this latest innovation investment.
While the vast majority of branded international spirits sold in reputable outlets, bars and restaurants are genuine, protecting consumers and preserving the reputation of brands is of paramount importance.
There have been cases where counterfeit spirits have caused methanol poisoning that can lead to blindness, coma and death.
This news follows last week’s announcement of a new and ambitious service, called Make Innovation Happen, to support Scotland’s food and drink businesses to innovate.
The service is delivered through a coalition of key public sector and industry bodies working together collaboratively to drive innovation, with £1.1m of critical funding coming from Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. For more information visit https://www.scottish-enterprise-mediacentre.com/news/scotland-food-drink-partnership-launches-make-innovation-happen