Guala Closures has advanced its Alusnap platform, strengthening the premium spirits closure to address the increasingly sophisticated counterfeit activity affecting beverage brands worldwide.
The enhancement arrives as brand owners face a serious challenge across the global spirits market. Industry estimates indicate that counterfeit or illicit products account for approximately 25% to 40% of spirits consumed worldwide. These illegal activities damage brand value, create potential risks for consumers and weaken confidence in premium products. As food and beverage industry trends continue to focus on authenticity, traceability and consumer protection, effective closure technology is becoming an increasingly important part of brand protection strategies.
To respond to changing counterfeit threats, Guala Closures has added new visible tamper-evident features to Alusnap and expanded its customisation options. Together, these enhancements make the closure more difficult to reproduce while supporting the wider priorities of food and drink industry innovation, food and drink packaging and premium brand differentiation.
Alusnap platform enhancements
The latest Alusnap design combines Guala Closures’ established mechanical protection systems with additional security functions and high-end finishing options.
Improved tamper evidence: The closure can incorporate Indicator, a prominent tamper-evident feature that gives consumers an immediate visual signal when a bottle has already been opened.
Dual glass-ball anti-refill protection: Alusnap retains its dual glass-ball valve mechanism, which helps prevent unauthorised refilling throughout the product’s lifecycle.
Integrated anti-pull-out protection: An engineered hook secures the pourer to the bottle neck and helps prevent forced removal, reducing the likelihood that an original bottle can be reused for counterfeit products.
Greater technical complexity and premium finishing: The aluminium outer shell now supports a broader range of design treatments, including detailed embossing, debossing and tactile textures. These finishes enhance shelf impact while adding manufacturing complexity that makes accurate imitation more challenging. Such capabilities reflect wider food manufacturing trends, in which packaging design increasingly combines visual appeal with security and functionality.
Consistent pouring performance: A redesigned pourer delivers a smooth and controlled flow. This improves the drinking experience while helping to limit dripping and unnecessary product loss, priorities that align with growing interest in food and drink sustainability.
Commenting on the development of Guala Closures’ brand protection portfolio, Andrea Lodetti, CEO of Guala Closures, stated: “Being a leader in security solutions for premium spirits is not just about having invented the technology in the first place. It means keeping a close eye on how the counterfeiting landscape is changing, understanding how sophisticated the threats are becoming, and evolving our solutions accordingly. That is exactly what we are doing with ALUSNAP: building on what works, while continuously adapting it to meet new challenges.“
International manufacturing and supply continuity
Guala Closures manufactures the enhanced Alusnap platform through its international production network, with key facilities located in Italy, Ukraine, India and Bulgaria. This geographically distributed model supports supply chain resilience for international distillers and global spirits companies while improving access to local markets.
The approach also reflects broader food distribution trends, where reliable regional production and secure supply are becoming central to commercial planning. By combining anti-counterfeiting performance, customisable food and drink packaging and dependable international manufacturing, Alusnap gives premium spirits producers a practical tool for protecting products and strengthening consumer trust amid evolving food and drink consumer trends, food and drink regulations and food and drink marketing priorities.
