Guala Closures expands in East Africa with acquisition of Metal Crowns Group

KENYA — Italian closure specialist Guala Closures has strengthened its footprint in East Africa through the acquisition of Metal Crowns Group, a leading Kenyan manufacturer of crown caps and plastic closures.

Founded in 1978, Metal Crowns Group has established itself as a key supplier to the region’s beer and carbonated soft drink industries.

The company operates two regional production facilities and serves a broad portfolio of international and local beverage brands.

For the 12 months ending July 2025, Metal Crowns reported revenues of approximately €32 million (KES4.79B).

The acquisition positions Guala Closures to deepen its engagement in East Africa, a region witnessing strong beverage sector growth driven by favourable demographics, expanding urbanization, and increasing disposable incomes.

A smooth integration is expected, as Gurdipsingh Parmar, Executive Director of Metal Crowns, will continue leading the company under its new ownership.

Strengthening a strategic division

The transaction marks an important milestone in the evolution of Guala Closures’ global crown closure division, which has been expanding through a mix of organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

The deal also enables the company to enter the plastic closure segment for soft drinks, further diversifying its product portfolio and enhancing its offering to beverage manufacturers.

Guala Closures’ presence in East Africa dates back to 2017, when it established Guala Closures East Africa, followed by the launch of a dedicated Nairobi plant in 2018.

The facility produces sophisticated, anti-counterfeit closures tailored to the regional spirits market.

Backed by Investindustrial, Guala Closures operates 37 production facilities worldwide and supplies to over 100 countries.

Innovation and local partnerships

The acquisition follows Guala Closures’ recent collaboration with IKILEADS Ltd, which saw the launch of 200ml “Don Coco” PET bottles across six spirit variants, including whisky, gin, vodka, and tequila.

The initiative represents a major investment in Africa’s fast-growing small-format spirits market, with an annual production capacity of 25–30 million units.

Central to this innovation is PICCOLO, a new premium two-piece closure developed by Guala Closures for PET bottles. Designed with tamper-evident functionality and customizable dual-color options, PICCO enhances both product security and brand appeal.

“PICCOLO is our answer to a growing demand for secure, premium closures in Africa’s PET spirits market,” said Sadanand Hanagodimath, Managing Director of Guala Closures West Africa LFZE.

“By combining technical innovation with brand protection, we are enabling producers to elevate their offering and safeguard their reputation.”

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