Dive Brief:
- ProAmpac acquired International Paper’s bag converting operations, the company announced Friday, without detailing financial terms.
- With this portfolio growth in kraft paper bags, ProAmpac aims to offer more customized solutions to grocery, convenience store and quick-service restaurant customers, including in handled shopping bags, self-opening sacks and smaller-format options, the company said.
- This is the latest business International Paper has shed this year as it streamlines its portfolio. The company recently sold its global cellulose fibers unit and exited the molded fiber market.
Dive Insight:
ProAmpac is a company built through acquisitions. The Cincinnati-headquartered global flexibles specialist, under private equity firm Pritzker Private Capital since 2016, has more than 50 manufacturing sites. Within that footprint, ProAmpac says it has three paper mills; they process recycled paper. According to ProAmpac’s 2025 Impact Report, a little over two-thirds of its total revenue comes from “recyclable products.”
In August the company announced its acquisition of PAC Worldwide, a Pacific Northwest-based e-commerce packaging specialist. This follows its 2024 acquisitions of recycled kraft paper producer UP Paper as well as Gelpac, which makes multiwall paper and poly-woven packaging products.
ProAmpac’s “fiberization” strategy includes expansion into applications where fiber-based packaging has historically been less common, including in frozen foods and overwraps. Its fiber packaging offerings also span to-go food containers and cold cuts packs.
IP’s bag converting sites are located in California, Oregon and Texas. This marks ProAmpac’s first expansion into California.
