Josh Brooks / packagingnews.co.uk

Huhtamäki buys US carton printer Paris Packaging

Finnish packaging group Huhtamäki has expanded its US operations with the $33m acquisition of Texas-based Paris Packaging.

The acquisition, made through Huhtamäki’s US subsidiary 21st Packaging Holding, strengthens the group’s foodservice and consumer goods packaging business in the world’s biggest economy.

Paris Packaging had turnover in 2010 of $62m and employs around 300 people at three sites in Paris, Texas, in Andalusia, Alabama and in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

The deal has been announced just a day after Chesapeake revealed the buy-out of Cortegra Packaging to boost its own presence in the US, although Chesapeake’s deal focuses on the pharmaceutical and healthcare market.


‘More competitive’

Huhtamäki chief executive Jukka Moisio said: “This acquisition is an example of the quality growth Huhtamaki is focused on as we leverage our solid financial position to become even more competitive,”

Clay Dunn, Huhtamäki executive vice president North America, added: “We are pleased to have acquired such a high quality business

“The addition of a new specialty folding carton product platform complements our existing offering of tableware, cups, containers, carriers, trays and serviceware, and demonstrates our commitment to growth in North America.”

The announcement also comes just days after Huhtamäki closed a flexible plastics facility in New Zealand.

The two developments are just the latest moves in Huhtamäki’s restructure, which has seen the group acquire in Latin America but sell off its European rigid plastics businesses.