Cask Can Supply FAQs
Everything you need to know about aluminum cans, pricing, logistics, forecasting, and how Cask’s Ball partnership supports reliable growth.
Cask is one of the most trusted can suppliers in the craft beverage industry, powered by a 25+ year distribution partnership with Ball Corporation. Our can program is built to reduce procurement complexity, improve cost visibility, and help customers plan with confidence.
Can Supply Program
How does Cask’s can program and Ball partnership support procurement reliability?
Cask operates a dedicated aluminum can program that integrates directly with Ball Corporation through a partnership that has been in place for more than 25 years. This long-standing relationship allows us to supply cans and ends alongside equipment and service, centralizing procurement through a single, reliable partner. By using Cask as both supplier and planning partner, customers can synchronize their can supply with plant capacity, production schedules, and planned changeovers. This alignment minimizes downtime, and significantly decreases the likelihood of emergency orders or expedited freight.
Who manufactures Cask's can supply?
All Cask-supplied aluminum cans and ends are manufactured by Ball Corporation. This gives craft beverage makers access to the highest-quality packaging on the market, backed by trusted QC standards and long-term consistency. Through this partnership, Cask provides terms, service, and planning support tailored specifically to the needs of growing craft beverage brands.
What countries does Cask distribute can supply in?
Cask supplies aluminum cans and lids in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Each region is supported by dedicated Cask account managers who specialize in regional freight, market dynamics, and production planning.
Pricing, Costs & Market Dynamics
How does Cask set pricing for aluminum cans and lids?
Cask uses a quarterly fixed pricing model to give customers stability and predictability. Prices are set at the beginning of each quarter using Aluminum market data, and if mid-quarter increases occur—as they often do—Cask absorbs the difference. This model allows beverage makers to plan purchases, manage margins, and budget confidently without worrying about volatile mid-quarter rate changes.
How much do graphics cost?
Ball’s standard graphics setup fee is $800 per label, which covers standard printed artwork. Specialty effects such as Eyeris involve more advanced printing processes and typically cost around $3,200 per label. Understanding these setup costs is essential when modeling total landed cost per SKU, particularly for brands with frequent seasonal or limited-release artwork changes.
If I am currently using another manufacturer, can I bring my cans over the Ball?
Yes. If there are no changes to your can design and you can provide us with your TIFF files and pilot cans, we can help you setup new graphics at Ball at no additional charge to you.
How do I know what the current price of Aluminum is?
Aluminum pricing is influenced by global metal markets, but raw aluminum accounts for only about one-third of the total cost of a finished can. The other two-thirds come from logistics, coatings, labor, energy, and other non-metal inputs. Understanding these drivers helps producers anticipate changes and protect margins. To see the current raw Aluminum price per pound in real time, Cask offers a free Aluminum Price Calculator.
Freight, Logistics & Minimums
How does freight on aluminum cans work?
Cask provides managed freight services through trusted logistics partners to secure competitive rates and reliable delivery. For one can customer producing five million cans annually, Cask proactively planned supply and consolidated production runs in a way that reduced freight costs by $1,500 per full truckload. Over the course of a year, this resulted in $22,000 in savings and materially lowered their total landed cost per can. Cask’s freight approach emphasizes predictability, optimization, and meaningful cost reduction.
What are the minimum order quantities?
United States & Canada
Cask offers one of the lowest printed can minimums in the industry: a one-truck minimum order quantity (MOQ) for printed cans. This MOQ supports growing beverage makers who need premium printed packaging without committing to oversized production runs.
United Kingdom
Cask customers in the UK can take advantage of Printed can MOQs of 150,000.
Where are the cans produced?
Ball has more Aluminum beverage can manufacturing plants that any other producer. There are over 15 plant locations in the United States alone. We work with customers to optimize their production location to minimize distance to their facility, pending where their specific format is produced, i.e., 12oz & 16oz STD cans are the most regularly produced across plants, whereas Sleek cans are produced at more specific plant locations. Check out all of Ball's plant locations here.
Does Cask provide warehousing?
United States & Canada
Customers have access to storage within the Ball production facility. Customers can blend Printed and Brite can shipments to make taking in inventory easier and more cost-effective to ship.
United Kingdom
Cask manages a warehouse in the UK for Cask customers, located right next to the Ball plant. This allows us to offer fast delivery times within 3 days, making on-site logistics easier for customers.
Planning, Forecasting & Account Management
Does Cask help customers forecast their can supply?
Yes. Every can supply customer is supported by a dedicated Cask account manager who helps forecast demand, plan ahead for upcoming quarters, and prepare for seasonal fluctuations or new SKUs. This proactive planning avoids last-minute scrambling and creates a smooth supply chain. As one Cask customer, The Shop Beer Co., shared: “Cask stands out by how well they understand our business and consistently doing what they say they will. Whether it’s navigating last-minute changes or offering proactive solutions, their structured approach—like quarterly planning meetings and market insights—keeps us ahead.”
What makes Cask different from other aluminum can suppliers?
Cask differentiates itself through transparency, responsiveness, and hands-on account management. We work closely with craft beverage makers to anticipate cost changes, plan supply needs, optimize freight routes, reduce total landed cost, and align procurement with production realities. Our customers get the benefits of modern supply chain technology combined with trusted, relationship-driven service. At Cask, good old-fashioned customer service meets intelligent planning, and we show up relentlessly for the people who bet on us.
Does Cask offer credit terms?
Yes. Cask offers competitive terms specifically suited for small businesses. We can help you get set up with credit terms to improve your working capital, available OAC.
Does Cask offer volume discounts?
Yes. Cask offers retroactive volume rebates to customers, to help offset your costs as you grow.
Contact & Next Steps
Still have questions? Our team is here to help. If you want guidance on your can supply strategy, or just want to explore options, let's connect!
