UFP Packaging is continuing to build out its national pallet manufacturing footprint, adding new capacity and regional density through the recent acquisitions of John Rock, Inc. and Berry Pallets, Inc.
The company confirmed that the two transactions, which were announced separately and covered in earlier reporting on Reusable Packaging News, extend its reach into the Northeast and Upper Midwest while strengthening its ability to support multi-location customers with consistent supply.
Together, the acquisitions add more than $105 million in annual revenue and approximately 375 employees to the PalletOne network.
Filling geographic gaps in key regions
The addition of John Rock’s operations in Pennsylvania and Virginia, along with Berry Pallets’ facility in Minnesota, brings UFP Packaging into two important freight corridors that have historically been more fragmented from a pallet supply standpoint.
Scott Worthington, President of UFP Packaging, framed the move as part of a broader effort to build a network capable of serving national accounts with uniform standards and service levels.
“These acquisitions are a direct reflection of our strategy, building a network that gives national customers the consistency, reliability, and reach they need, no matter where they operate,” Worthington said. “Adding John Rock and Berry Pallets closes critical gaps in our Northeast and Upper Midwest footprint and strengthens our ability to serve large, multi-region customers at the scale and speed the market demands.”
The company’s PalletOne platform, already positioned as a single-source provider, has steadily expanded through a mix of organic growth and targeted acquisitions aimed at improving regional coverage.
Scale and integration without disruption
John Rock contributes approximately $82 million in annual revenue and nearly 250 employees, with operations focused on new and recycled pallets, including stringer, combo, and heat-treated designs. Berry Pallets adds roughly $23 million in annual revenue and 75 employees from its Minnesota base.
Justin Elwell, Executive Vice President of PalletOne, emphasized that the integration approach is designed to preserve the strengths of each business while providing access to broader resources.
“John Rock has spent decades building a strong, multi-site operation with deep customer relationships across the Northeast. That kind of regional density and expertise is exactly what we look for,” Elwell said. “Berry Pallets brings the same qualities to the Upper Midwest: a well-run facility, a loyal customer base, and a team that knows their market. Our role is to provide both operations with the stability, investment, and broader resources to grow, without disrupting what has made them successful.”
That balance between central scale and local execution continues to be a defining characteristic of larger pallet networks as they compete with regional independents.
Supporting national accounts and packaging integration
The expansion also fits with UFP Industries’ broader capital allocation strategy, which has focused on growing core packaging businesses and increasing manufacturing capacity in regions tied to national distribution flows.
For customers, the value proposition centers on consistency. Large shippers operating across multiple regions often face variability in pallet specifications, availability, and service levels. Expanding a unified manufacturing network can help reduce that variability while improving supply reliability.
At the same time, UFP Packaging continues to position itself as a multi-material provider, combining wood pallets with services such as corrugated conversion, metal fabrication, and labeling. That broader offering is increasingly relevant as companies look to align packaging decisions across systems rather than treat pallets as a standalone commodity.
Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.
