Sapulpa glass plant makes millions of beer bottles

A drop in demand for bottled beer, with the increased popularity of canned beer, has idled about 130 workers since September.There is no imminent return of bottled beer preference expected, and the company is seeking other beverage or food containers to produce instead.   

Beer drinkers who prefer their brew from a bottle could likely sip from a container manufactured in Sapulpa.

The Sapulpa glass plant — now Verallia North America — began its second century of operation last year as a major producer of beer bottles.

"The primary markets we serve are Anheuser-Busch, Boulevard Brewing of Kansas City, Lagunitis Brewing of California and then mainly the soda markets," plant manager Steve Cedoz said.

"We are about 85 percent beer bottles."

Verallia has gone through several name changes and endured ups and downs over the past century. It employs 220 people. The 740,000-square-foot plant produces 2.3 million to 3.3 million glass bottles per day, company officials said.

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