A French valley manufacturers the majority of the globe's luxury bottles.
The Bresle Valley, on the border of Normandy and Hauts-de-France, produces more than 70% of the world's production of luxury bottles for perfumes, spirits and pharmacy, according to French manufacturers.
"After a very sharp decline in activity for two years, we skyrocketed in 2010," summarised William Varrall, director of the Glass Valley association, which represents 70 companies in the Bresle Valley.
The valley is spread over about 50km on the borders of Seine-Maritime, Somme and Oise in northern France.
From mould makers to decorators to foundries and glassmakers, luxury bottles provides work for nearly 8500 people with about 60% of those employed by glassmakers.
It has a turnover of about €1.5 to €2 billion, according to Mr. Varrall.
The largest glassmakers are Verescence, which employs 1300 people in France, including more than 800 in Mers-les-Bains in Somme, Pochet du Courval (1,700 people in France including 1,400 in Guimerville, Seine-Maritime), and Verreries Brosse, with 300 employees in Vieux-Rouen-sur-Bresle, Seine-Maritime and is a subsidiary of the Italian group Zignago Vetro.
The industry invests a lot and hires but it struggles to recruit in the absence of a glass school, added Mr. Varrall.
Pictured: The Verescence site in Mers-le-Bains employs 800 people.
