Benson Group expands with third acquisition
printed cartons producer Integrated Packaging is set to aid
expansion, with future investments envisaged.
The deal is the third of its kind made by Benson Group in the past two years and reinforces the investment for growth strategy being driven from the company's East Midlands headquarters. "Integrated Packaging has responded to highly competitive market conditions by investing in facilities, equipment and staff development," said Benson managing director Mark Kerridge. "A partnership with Benson Group will help build on that position and escalate the achievement of ambitious targets." This comes 30 years after Integrated Packaging was formed by Alan Hall near Newcastle. Its principal business is the chilled food sector and it serves industries across the UK. The company said its business complements that of Benson and the other companies it has acquired. Benson acquired Medica Packaging in 2005 and Print Design & Graphics (PDG) in 2006. Benson hopes the combined revenues from its four companies will improve its position among the top three UK carton manufacturers. Integrated Packaging will remain an independently run business, under the leadership of general manager Andrew Pybus. Its sales of £18m (€25m) will take Beson's total turnover to around £85m (€118m), and its 180 staff members will push its employee numbers to over 700. Neither company would reveal the sum of the acquisition. Kerridge said: "We have seen good organic growth in the business overall and the acquisitions have enabled significant growth. "We have been pleased by the rapid integration of both Medica and PDG into the Group and look forward to that pattern being repeated with Integrated. A positive investment for growth strategy is paying dividends particularly in terms of maximizing capacity across all sites."
