A Worcestershire bottle-maker is on the acquisition trail after securing more than £30 million to develop its business. Esterform Packaging, which supplies its products to the UK’s beverage industry, secured the funds from Gresham Private Equity with debt provided by Lloyds TSB.

A Worcestershire bottle-maker is on the acquisition trail after securing more than £30 million to develop its business. Esterform Packaging, which supplies its products to the UK’s beverage industry, secured the funds from Gresham Private Equity with debt provided by Lloyds TSB.

Esterform’s directors plan to grow its business through selective acquisitions as well as investing in its existing manufacturing operations. The company’s previous acquisitions include Able Industries in 2001 followed by Petplas Packaging two years ago.

Gresham’s funding was co-ordinated by investment manager Mitch Titley in the firm’s Birmingham office.

Following the completion of the deal, Ian Woodhead joins Esterform as chairman. Woodhead has experience of manufacturing businesses serving the food and beverage industries, most recently having been chairman of healthy eating and snacking products company Whitworths.

Esterform manufactures a range of plastic bottles for the soft drinks, alcoholic and speciality sectors with a strong presence in the water, juice and smoothies markets.

The company has more than 200 employees at its manufacturing operations in Tenbury Wells and Leeds.