Ciaran Dickson, Frugalpac’s new Commercial Manager for Machine Systems with the Frugal Bottle Assembly Machine

Frugalpac, the Ipswich-based sustainable packaging company has appointed a new commercial manager to meet the growing demand for its Frugal Bottle Assembly Machines making the world’s first commercially available paper bottle for wine, spirits and olive oils.

Ciaran Dickson has been appointed to the new role of Commercial Manager for Machine Systems with immediate effect.

Working closely alongside Commercial Manager for Frugal Bottles Paula Kendall, he will report into CEO Malcolm Waugh.

With a decade’s experience working for leading UK and international engineering firms, Ciaran joins Frugalpac from specialist UK food packaging machinery company Automac UK Ltd (part of the Fabbri Group) where, as Sales Manager for the UK and Ireland, he worked closely with customers to increase the efficiency and productivity of their machinery and reduce costs.

Prior to that, Ciaran worked for Bradford-based Advanced Dynamics selling packaging equipment for bottling lines, having joined from RS Components where he began his career in 2014 and progressed to the Corporate Sales Team as an Industry Sector specialist, working with blue chip organisations in the food and beverage industry.

Ciaran Dickson said: “I really welcome the opportunity of taking on this international role at Frugalpac. Seeing the Frugal Bottles in production on the FBAM-1 is incredible and when I first held the paper wine bottles it all made sense.

“I look forward to working strategically alongside Paula and Malcolm to grow machinery sales and accelerate the global paper bottle revolution.”

Commenting on his appointment, Frugalpac CEO Malcolm Waugh said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Ciaran to Frugalpac. His knowledge and understanding of engineering coupled with his expertise in the beverage packaging industry make him an undoubted asset to the team.

“Our first FBAM-1 is being assembled by KinsBrae Packaging in Canada, and a second machine will be on its way to California in Q1. We are working on 507 live Frugal™ Bottle quotations and 114 live Frugal™ Bottle Assembly Machine quotations which is the equivalent of over 300m Frugal Bottles.

“The paper bottle revolution is here and working with Ciaran we will help to cut carbon from the wine industry even further.”

Made from 94% recycled cardboard, Frugal Bottles are five times lighter and have a carbon footprint six times lower than glass bottles – using less energy to produce, transport and dispose of than glass equivalents.

Weighing just 83g (before filled), the bottles have a food grade pouch inside to contain the liquid and also offer 360° branding for exceptional, impactful shelf presence.

More than 35 different drinks producers from around the world have launched 128 different SKUs of wines, spirits and olive oils in the Frugal Bottle since 2020. The paper Frugal Bottles also appear in the No1 watched Netflix show ‘Bodies.

This year the Frugalpac was named SME of the Year in the UK Green Business Awards and the Innovation of the Year award winner at the East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards 2023.

Frugalpac calls on all wineries, distillers, contract fillers and packaging businesses to invest in the Frugal Bottle Assembly Machines to meet the high demands for the Frugal Bottles around the world to reduce carbon and increase their sales of the wines, spirits and packaging.