Elopak strengthens Middle East and North African presence with Naturepak Beverage acquisition

13 Oct 2021 --- Elopak is acquiring Naturepak Beverage Packaging, a leading gable top fresh liquid carton and packaging systems supplier in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. 

The Norwegian liquid carton producer has signed a Share Purchase Agreement to fully acquire Naturepak Beverage from Gulf Industrial Group and Evergreen Packaging International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pactiv Evergreen.

Naturepak Beverage is described as the leading provider of fresh liquid carton and packaging systems in the MENA region, with local production facilities in Morocco and Saudi Arabia. These facilities will be integrated into Elopak’s global production network.

Naturepak Beverage is present in 16 countries and has an annual production capacity of 2.7 billion cartons across various product sizes. Its customers include global blue-chip FMCG players.

Supporting organic growth
The acquisition reinforces Elopak’s position in the MENA region, supporting the company’s 2-3% organic revenue growth, delivering inorganic opportunities and growing its global footprint by entering new geographies.

Thomas Körmendi, Elopak’s CEO.“This transaction represents an important part of the growth ambitions we outlined to our shareholders during our IPO this year,” notes Thomas Körmendi, Elopak’s CEO.

“By establishing a presence in Morocco and Saudi Arabia, we can access important growth markets and deliver Elopak’s brand portfolio to key local and international players. The transaction reflects our strong commitment to growth in the Middle East and Africa.”

Rebranded under Elopak
Following the acquisition, Naturepak Beverage will be rebranded and incorporated under the Elopak name. The acquisition provides a strategic customer base in the fresh beverage carton segment, primarily in Morocco in fresh dairy, and gives access to growth markets in an “attractive region.”

Elopak indicates Naturepak Beverage’s client base will have access to a wider fresh and aseptic product portfolio and innovative, environmentally sustainable packaging solutions, leveraging its Pure-Pak carton portfolio and technical expertise to drive further product growth across segments and markets.

Pure-Pak Imagine carton
In July 2020, Elopak launched the Pure-Pak Imagine carton, the company’s “most environmentally friendly carton to date.”

Pure-Pak Imagine, Elopak’s “most environmentally friendly carton to date.”“The Pure-Pak Imagine carton represents the culmination of Elopak’s work in dairy packaging, combining several ground-breaking sustainability innovations into one comprehensive packaging solution,” Patrick Verhelst, Elopak’s Chief Marketing Officer, tells PackagingInsights.

“The carton is based on Elopak’s Natural Brown Board, which has a lower CO2 footprint due to the paperboard’s reduced wood content and the absence of bleaching chemicals from the process.”

“The Pure-Pak Imagine carton is also designed without a plastic screw cap, instead sporting an easy-open feature reminiscent of cartons from the 70s and 80s. As a result, the Pure-Pak Imagine carton uses 46% less plastic than a screw-top carton and ten times less plastic than a PET bottle.”

Elopak developments
In May, Elopak published its 2020 Sustainability Report, highlighting an 11% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions against a 2017 baseline.

The supplier also introduced a new tethered cap solution for its Pure-Pak cartons called the Pure-TwistFlip. The launch comes as the industry prepares for the EU’s Single Use-Plastics Directive, requiring manufacturers to adopt tethered caps and lids that remain attached to containers by July 2024.

In August, Elopak unveiled a more environmentally sustainable aseptic carton branded the Pure-Pak eSense. The new carton is the same shape as the consumer-friendly Pure-Pak Sense Aseptic carton, with the “e” standing for eco-friendly.

By Joshua Poole

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