Munich, Germany, January 19, 2023: IFCO, the world’s leading provider of Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs) for fresh grocery products, today announced the acquisition of the RPC pooling services company PlasticPack in Vilnius, Lithuania.
PlasticPack is the current market leader in Lithuania providing reusable packaging in the meat and dairy supply chains. IFCO aims to become the leading provider of RPCs for the fresh grocery supply chain in the Baltic region serving Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
PlasticPack will expand its product portfolio beyond meat and dairy to also include fruit and vegetable RPCs to growers and retailers, becoming the first company to offer foldable reusable packaging for fruit and vegetables in the Baltics. By further expanding the use of reusable packaging in the region, IFCO takes another step toward fulfilling its purpose of making the fresh grocery supply chain sustainable.
“We are really excited about the opportunity to join the IFCO team, allowing us to grow our thriving business and to expand into new verticals to complement our service offering,” said Eugenijus Michalauskas, Managing Director of PlasticPack.
In addition to offering regionwide coverage in the Baltics, customers in the region will benefit from IFCO´s long-standing global expertise in the circular economy and providing reusable packaging. Combining PlasticPack and IFCO will unite the best local and global operating expertise, providing an enhanced customer experience and the financial backing to scale the business.
PlasticPack will incorporate the highest customer service standards to reduce lead times, improve RPC availability, as well as streamline ordering and invoicing systems. Further improvements in reverse logistics and transportation efficiency will also provide additional benefits and allow customers to reduce the environmental impact of their operations.
“Through this strategic transaction, we look forward to welcoming PlasticPack into IFCO’s global business portfolio,” said Michael Pooley, CEO of IFCO. “In addition, we are excited to apply our circular economy pooling model in the fresh grocery supply chain, which will bring much-needed cost and environmental savings in the Baltic region.”