What Kilner does

Kilner is a UK-based consumer kitchenware brand, founded in 1842 by John Kilner and Co. in England and currently owned and operated by Rayware Limited, a private UK company headquartered in Liverpool. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes glass jars, bottles, and preserving equipment, with its core product centered on the original Kilner Jar featuring a proprietary pressure seal technology. Product lines span clip top jars (round, square, facetted), screw top preserve jars, push top storage jars, fermentation sets with ceramic stones and air locks, drinking dispensers and bottles, kitchen accessories (preserving pans, funnels, muslin squares, replacement seals), and lifestyle kits (sourdough starter set, yoghurt making set, kefir set, salad dressing maker). Materials are sodalime glass with BPA-free claims, paired with stainless steel clip mechanisms, tin disc and screw band closures, silicone gaskets, and ceramic components for fermentation.

Kilner operates a wholesale-retail go-to-market model, having transitioned as of July 1st from direct e-commerce to a channel-focused distribution approach. Sales occur through authorized retailers (kitchenware shops, department stores, garden centers), online marketplaces such as Amazon, and a non-transactional brand website that serves as a product catalog and discovery resource. Pricing is set at retailer discretion with a recommended retail price range from approximately £3.00 (small preserve and twist top jars) to £79.00 (8L preserving pan), targeting home preservers, fermentation enthusiasts, sustainable living advocates, and home entertaining consumers. The company runs content-driven marketing through recipe libraries, how-to guides, and the Kilner Club newsletter across major social platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok). An EU correspondence address is maintained in Dublin. With 11-50 employees, no disclosed external investors, and no public listing, Kilner functions as a privately-held heritage consumer brand within the Rayware group, with global recognition but limited disclosed financial transparency.

Name

Kilner

Legal name

Rayware Limited

Website

https://kilnerjar.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1842

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kilner is a UK-based consumer kitchenware brand, established in 1842, that designs and distributes glass jars, bottles, and preserving equipment for home preservers, fermentation enthusiasts, and sustainability-focused consumers globally through retailers and online marketplaces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Kitchenware

akta.pro primary industry

Wide-Mouth & Storage Glass Packaging (Canisters, Utility Jars) (IMALAEAI)

Keywords

• Glass preserving jars
• Food storage containers
• Home fermentation equipment
• Clip top jars
• Drinks dispensers bottles

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Glass Jar and Bottle Sales: One-time product sales of glass preserving jars, bottles, and kitchen accessories through retail channels. Revenue generated from consumer purchases of physical products including clip top jars, screw top preserve jars, push top storage jars, fermentation sets, drinking bottles, and related accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kilner manufactures and sells glass jars, bottles, and preserving equipment for home food preservation, pickling, fermentation, and kitchen storage. The product range includes clip top jars, screw top preserve jars, push top storage jars, fermentation sets, drinks dispensers, bottles, and supporting accessories such as preserving pans, funnels, muslin squares, and replacement lids. Products are sold through authorized retailers, online marketplaces such as Amazon, and the brand's website serves as a product discovery and information resource.

Product overview

Kilner is a UK-based kitchenware company established in 1842, specializing in iconic glass jars, bottles, and preserving equipment. The product portfolio centers on the original Kilner Jar with its distinctive pressure seal, offering solutions for preserving, food preparation, storage, and on-the-go dining. The core product lines include Clip Top Jars (round, square, facetted designs with stainless steel clip closures), Screw Top Jars (preserve jars with vacuum-seal lids), Push Top Jars (with silicone airtight seals, including ceramic variants), Fermentation Products (specialized sets with air locks), and Drinking & Entertaining items (dispensers, bottles). Supporting product lines include Create & Make for craft applications, Food Storage solutions, and a comprehensive Accessories range featuring preserving pans, funnels, muslin squares, and replacement lids. New additions include Acacia Wooden Lids for an artisanal aesthetic, Salad Dressing Makers, and various sized Fermentation and Kefir Sets. The company positions itself around sustainability with reusable, BPA-free glass products designed to replace single-use plastics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clip Top Jars Glass preserving and storage jars featuring a stainless steel clip system with rubber seal for airtight closure. Available in round, square, and facetted designs in various sizes from 0.5L to 3L for home preservers, fermenters, and food storage consumers.
• Screw Top Jars Preserving jars with 2-piece lid system (tin disc and screw band) ensuring secure vacuum seal. Includes Preserve Jars, Wide Mouth Preserve Jars, Fruit Preserve Jars, and Twist Top Jars for jam, chutney, and pickle making.
• Push Top Jars Storage jars with push-top lids featuring silicone gaskets for airtight seals. Includes Universal Push Top Jars, Ceramic Storage Jars in various colors, and Silicone Push Top Jars for dry food storage and pantry organization.
• Fermentation Products Specialized fermentation vessels including Fermentation Sets (1L, 3L, 5L), Kefir Sets, and Sprouting Sets with ceramic stones and air locks for home fermentation of kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, and kefir.
• Drinks Dispensers Glass beverage dispensers for serving drinks at gatherings and events for home entertaining consumers.
• Bottles Glass bottles for storing juices, sauces, oils, and beverages. Includes Clip Top Bottles and Juice & Sauce Bottles for home use.
• Food Storage Kitchen food storage solutions including Kids Storage Jars, Fresh Storage containers, and Reusable Bulk Food Bags for sustainable living consumers.
• Create & Make Craft and DIY-oriented jars and kits for creative projects including terrariums, vases, and decorative items.
• Preserving Accessories Supporting products for preserving including Replacement Lids and Seals, Preserving Pans, Easy Fill Funnels, Strainer Funnels, Muslin Squares, and Wax Discs.
• Stainless Steel Preserving Pan 8 Litre Durable stainless steel preserving pan with brushed satin finish, 8L capacity, encapsulated base suitable for all hob types including induction, internal litre and pint markings, and integrated pouring spout for home preserving.
• Salad Dressing Maker Set Create, serve, and store homemade salad dressings with internal stainless steel coiled spring for blending. Includes 0.5L bottle, silicone collar, stainless steel cap and one-piece lid.
• Universal Jar Acacia Wooden Lid Acacia wooden push top lids with distinctive grain pattern and silicone seals for airtight storage of dry foods like grains, pasta, and cereals. Available in 0.85L and 2L sizes.
• Sourdough Starter Set BESTSELLER kit for creating and maintaining homemade sourdough starters for bread making.
• Yoghurt Making Set Set for making fresh dairy and plant-based yoghurts, ready in 10 hours.
• Gift Guide Curated selection of Kilner products suitable for gifting, including Preserving Enthusiasts gift sets and themed bundles.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Rayware LimitedcoreOthersRayware Limited is the parent company of the Kilner brand. The company manages the Kilner product line, UK headquarters at Liverpool, and EU correspondence through Dublin office.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Anchor Hocking: Large US glass manufacturer offering glass food storage, drinkware, and ovenware. Competes with Kilner in glass storage and pantry jars but with a broader portfolio spanning bakeware and tableware, not specializing in preserving.
• Pyrex: Established glass kitchenware brand (bakeware, storage, measuring) with comparable consumer base of home cooks. Overlaps with Kilner in glass food storage and pantry jars but is broader in scope across ovenware and cookware.

Direct peers

• Duralex: French tempered-glass manufacturer offering storage jars, tumblers, and bowls. Direct competitor in glass food storage with comparable price points and overlapping European specialty and grocery retail customers.
• Le Parfait: Heritage French preserving-jar brand with terracotta-rubber-seal clip top jars, a close direct competitor to Kilner in the European home-preserving market. Comparable product technology, similar end user (home preservers), and overlapping specialty retail distribution.
• Weck: German maker of glass preserving jars with rubber-gasket and clamp closures, directly comparable to Kilner's clip top jars. Serves the same home-preserving and fermentation enthusiast customer base across European and specialty retail channels.
• Mason Cash: Heritage British kitchenware brand producing cane-based mixing bowls and ceramic storage jars. Comparable UK heritage positioning and overlapping retail customer (home cooks, food enthusiasts) with similar premium kitchenware distribution.
• Bormioli Rocco (Fido): Italian glassmaker producing the Fido line of clip-top preserving jars with airtight swing-bottle closures, directly competing with Kilner's clip top range in the home-preserving segment. Comparable product format, similar price points, and overlapping European retail channels.
• Ball Corporation (Ball Mason Jars): Ball Mason Jars are the iconic US home-preserving glass jars, directly comparable to Kilner's clip top and screw top preserving jars. Both brands serve the same home-canning and preserving use case with proprietary lid/seal systems and broad retail distribution.

Others

• Lock & Lock: Korean houseware brand specializing in airtight plastic food storage containers with clip-lock lids. Adjacent competitor in the food storage and home preservation space, particularly relevant for the airtight-seal use case Kilner serves.
• OXO (storage and kitchen): US kitchenware brand offering food storage containers, canisters, and organization products. Competes with Kilner for pantry organization and dry-food storage, particularly the Sustainable Living Advocates segment, though mostly in plastic rather than glass.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kilnerUK
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/kilnerjars/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/KilnerUK
• Instagraminstagram.com/kilnerUK
• Pinterestpinterest.co.uk/kilner
• TikToktiktok.com/@kilneruk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kilner-range

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kilner