By Shefali Kapadia

When Sonoco announced plans to acquire European metal packaging specialist Eviosys in a nearly $4 billion deal this summer, the packaging giant made its intentions clear: It was betting big on metal food cans. 

At a time when novel materials and formats are proliferating in packaging and food companies rely on innovation to drive sales in some areas, sources say utilitarian canned food remains attractive because it’s a relatively stable market with consistent growth. 

Pre-acquisition, Sonoco was bringing in $1 billion in annual revenue from metal packaging in the U.S., including aerosols for household products, along with cans for vegetables, tomatoes and beans. Sonoco expects the deal will expand its total addressable market for metal packaging to $25 billion globally. 

Competitors such as Crown Holdings (which is more focused on beverage cans) and Silgan see potential for growth in canned pet food and proteins.

A big reason packaging manufacturers are so confident in metal food cans is because their CPG customers have stuck with the material for decades. And many in the packaging industry don’t see that changing. 

Continue reading on Packaging Dive.

By Shefali Kapadia

Consumers on social media were loud and clear about their thoughts on Grillo’s Pickles. They loved the pickles, but hated the packaging.

Pickle juice leaked or spilled in the refrigerator, and consumers reported hurt fingers or broken nails when opening the lid, according to Eddie Andre, vice president of branding at Grillo’s Pickles. “We knew the jar was our biggest consumer pain point,” Andre said in an email.

Grillo’s took the years of consumer feedback to heart and worked with its packaging partner, Berry Global, to develop a solution. It settled on a lid change, switching from a model that lifts up to a continuous thread closure design, which debuted this spring and is in the process of rolling out to store shelves.

“Now you can twist off the lid with no spills or sore fingers,” Andre said.

Continue reading on Packaging Dive.

By Shefali Kapadia

Leslie Weist knew she was assuming significant risk when she decided to secure a loan two years ago to construct a new building for her small Ohio-based business, Michael Byrne Manufacturing. So, it was critical to be able to count on the financial institution she chose as her lender.

Picking the right bank is “a major decision and undertaking,” says Weist, vice president of operations at the company. “Having a banking partner that you trust makes a big difference.”

While Michael Byrne Manufacturing already had a relationship with Park National Bank going back decades to when Weist’s grandfather ran the manufacturing company, it was the personalized service that ultimately compelled Weist to work with the Ohio-based bank on the loan. The bank’s account manager took the time to visit Michael Byrne’s manufacturing site and offices to discuss finances, and let Weist know about loan options available through the state of Ohio, which helped her secure a lower interest rate for the loan. And throughout the process, Weist never felt she was on her own: “Having someone local that you can call, meet with face-to-face … you really do build that relationship,” she says.

That personal touch not only won over Weist, it also helped Park National Bank earn the ranking of No. 1 bank in Ohio on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Banks in Each State 2024.

Continue reading on Forbes.

By Shefali Kapadia

When Unilever’s new CEO Hein Schumacher took the helm last summer, he was ready to make sweeping changes to the consumer goods giant. One of these actions was reducing the number of SKUs in Unilever’s portfolio.

This process, known as SKU rationalization, eliminates the lowest-margin product versions and sizes to improve profitability and simplify the supply chain. 

“We are striving for lower complexity with over 20% reductions in SKUs, raw and packed materials and number of suppliers,” the CEO told analysts and investors during an earnings call early this year.

Analysts predict SKU rationalization, considered a cyclical trend, will continue for several years to come.

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By Shefali Kapadia

When Sherri Garner Brumbaugh first looked into a NASCAR sponsorship for her trucking company, she wasn’t sure how to make it work. She wondered how a regional carrier would stack up against big national brands like Menards and Lowe’s.

“It seemed like such a reach for a company like mine,” said Brumbaugh, president and CEO of Findlay, Ohio-based Garner Trucking, which operates 90 trucks and 350 trailers.

But after speaking with marketing executives associated with NASCAR, Brumbaugh realized she could fill a niche with trucks that haul race cars. Following several conversations and each side understanding the other’s needs and offerings, the “pieces just came together,” and Garner was able to market its brand via a NASCAR sponsorship.

Marketing isn’t always a focus for trucking companies, especially big fleets with household names. Their name recognition, network and capacity alone can be enough to win over shippers.

Continue reading on Trucking Dive.

By Shefali Kapadia

When energy drink manufacturers work with packaging supplier WestRock on projects such as rethinking their multipacks, they have a few requests. 

“We see the ongoing ask of us as suppliers to do things better, faster, cheaper, more sustainable,” said John Perkins, vice president of global packaging systems at WestRock.

It may seem like a laundry list, but it’s critical in the buzzing sector that is energy drinks. Established companies, like Monster and Red Bull, are revamping portfolios and packaging designs. Newer entrants, like Celsius, are expanding rapidly with new SKUs and pack configurations. And brands within a larger portfolio, like PepsiCo’s Rockstar, are refreshing their looks. 

Continue reading on Packaging Dive.