Beverage firms hit as flood-hit cap-maker halts production

Parinya Permpanich, director of marketing and sales at Serm Suk, said last week that the shut-down would restrict the company’s production of returnable bottles, which represent up to 60 per cent of its sales.
“Crown Seal closed its crown cap factory on October 20, which is the same time we closed our beverage facility in Pathum Thani. We have moved our remaining stock of crown caps from the Pathum Thani plant to other factories, including in Chon Buri, Surat Thani and Nakhon Ratchasima,” he said.
Serm Suk has urged another cap manufacturer to raise its output to support Serm Suk’s operations until Crown Seal’s factory can be reopened.
Dhongchai Siridhara, director for public affairs and communications at Coca-Cola bottler ThaiNamthip, said that during the flood, most of the company’s beverage capacity has been allocated to plastic bottles.
“We have no significant impact from the closure of Crown Seal’s factory as we are not producing beverages for returnable bottles at this time. The massive flood has raised major troubles for the transport of returnable bottles in and out of factories, as many distribution routes have been cut or blocked by water,” he said.