Canada’s leading paper products group Cascades Inc. is expanding its footprint in the U.S. market for egg packaging with a recent acquisition of two manufacturers of moulded pulp egg cartons.
According to the Kingsey Falls, Que.-headquartered company, the new assets will allow the company to double its current U.S. production capacity for moulded pulp egg packaging products.
“These acquisitions give us the opportunity to improve Cascades’ position in the strategic fresh protein and food services packaging markets,” says Cascades president and chief executive officer Mario Plourde. “They are also in line with our objective to expand our molded pulp activities, which produce a recycled, recyclable, compostable and biodegradable packaging product that offers highly interesting opportunities against a backdrop of expanding interest in the circular economy.”
Adding up to a total of US$37.4 million, the acquisitions include an Urban Forest Products plant in Brook, Ind., and a Clarion Packaging facility in Clarion, Iowa, with both facilities strategically located in two of the three biggest egg-producing states in the U.S.
In addition to the two plants — employing total of over 150 people to make moulded pulp protective packaging for the egg and quick-service restaurant industries — Cascades also acquired a majority interest in Falcon Packaging, a leading distribution of egg packaging with 31 employees in Ohio, Iowa and Georgia.
According to Cascades, the three companies have consolidated sales that exceed US$110 million annually.
“The quality of the acquired assets and their complementary geographical positioning with our existing plants that manufacture moulded pulp packaging will allow us to improve the service we provide to our customers and support our
innovation initiatives,” says Luc Langevin, president and chief operating officer of Cascades Specialty Products Group. “With four moulded pulp plants efficiently spread out across North America, Cascades will build synergy, improve the distribution of production volumes, and allow certain sites to specialize.”
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