Meet the Maker: Mark Glover

Not everyone may be aware of this, but we don’t solely work in the UK with businesses in England, Wales, and Scotland, in fact, we have a team over in Ireland working alongside Irish distilleries too. Therefore, for our next edition of meet the maker, we thought we would introduce you to Mark Glover, who is part of our Emerging Brands Team across the Irish Sea.

Tell us a little about yourself and your experience within the Irish industry

I’m Mark Glover. I’ve been working at Verallia (formerly Allied Glass) since June 2021. I have spent the majority of my career involved with the drinks trade, joining Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands in 2003 then more recently managing licenced-trade publication, Hospitality Review NI in Belfast.

Working on the some of the biggest brands in the world through Bacardi and later working with some of the most exciting new distilleries in Ireland through Hospitality Review NI, has fed my passion for the drinks industry, and my new role with Verallia continues my journey in what I think surely must be the most exciting and interesting industry in the world.

I’m based in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim and am husband to Angela, and father to Emma (13) and Archie (8).

What department of Verallia do you work in?

I’m part of the Emerging Brands Team with responsibility for sales on the island of Ireland. Our focus as a team is to develop long-term partnerships with up-and-coming brands and become an integral part of their growth journey.

We’ve already done some great work in Ireland, creating bespoke bottles for Irish Whiskey brands such as Method & Madness, Dunville’s, Hinch, Kirker & Greer; gin brands such as 9th Wave, Mor, and Chinnery and other brands such as Bowsaw. And we have also supported other brands such as Ballykeefe, Bua, Clonakilty, Powerscourt through our premium range of bottles.

I have joined the Verallia team at an exciting time for Irish distilling, and I am loving working with so many exciting brands taking their package to the next level.

Can you explain your job role at Verallia to me? What does your typical day look like?

I’m very lucky really. I spend my days working with a quickly growing group of distilleries throughout Ireland understanding their journey and collaborating on supporting their future goals. The passion throughout the people in the industry is infectious and I love working with them to create stand out glass packaging.  Whether visiting distilleries throughout Ireland or guiding projects through our factories in Yorkshire, it’s amazing to be part of so many exciting brand journeys.

What do you enjoy the most about working at Verallia?

There’s so much to enjoy about working with Verallia, it’s really surpassed my expectations.

It’s a very exciting time to be part of the Irish Spirits market, especially Irish Whiskey distilling. In 2010 there were only 4 working distilleries; over 10 years later, there has been well over 30 new distilleries and brands emerging putting Irish Whiskey back on the map. As a proud Irishman for me personally to be part of this revival is what drives me.

New project development – being involved from design to finished bottle, it’s a very creative and exciting process.

Verallia has a reputation of supporting brand growth through exceptional quality, innovative glass making techniques and great service which are all essential for a brand’s long-term growth.

What trends do you see happening within the glass industry?

Sustainability is one of the key parts of conversations with many of our customers. Local supply from a partner that can offer continual innovation through design and manufacturing through evolving sustainable practices is key.

Stand out on shelf is also more important than ever. In an overly competitive market, having the right packing on the shelf can be a game changer for a brand.

What is the most exciting project you have worked on?

I’ve only been in the business for just over 6 months but already I’m working on the development of a number of fantastic new bottles, which should be appearing in Ireland and beyond this year. So, watch this space!

What is your go to drink?

Definitely a single malt Irish Whiskey, I’m not revealing which one though!

If you are a distillery in Ireland, looking to bring your brand to life through glass packaging, please do not hesitate to get in contact with our Irish team, and Mark can help you along the way!

If you enjoyed learning more about our team members, check out our blog page to read our previous meet the maker pieces!