Close×

Universal Packaging (UPL) and Spicers have entered into a share sale agreement, effective as of 30 November.

According to Morgan John, general manager, Spicers NZ, the merger will see each company operating independently, with business as usual for its customers and suppliers.

“We expect Spicers NZ and UPL can bring operational benefits to our customers in the short term as well as broaden each other’s product offering by sharing portfolios for our customers benefit. Over the next six months we will forge further plans on how the businesses work closer together," he said.

UPL owners Matthew Goudie, Jed Goudie and Matthew Goddin say that they are excited to join Spicers NZ. 

“Since 1985 Universal Packaging has focused on serving the nation's leading brands and ensuring its success through cost effective and environmentally safe load containment. This move brings all our customers access to a greater industrial packaging offering and product expertise,” they said.

John confirmed that he, too, is excited that the UPL team is joining Spicers.

“This makes good on our plans to invest in our Paper, Sign & Display and Industrial Packaging businesses. Alongside our historical position in paper, we have grown our Sign & Display business to be a market leader via Total Supply including the Sign Technology and Blueprint acquisitions over the last seven years,” he said.

“Industrial Packaging is a key focus and has been a growth area for Spicers NZ in recent years, with UPL joining us we collectively have a greater offering of packaging products for our customers. Furthermore, we now have a footprint in Palmerston North to offer our customers in the wider region all products in our NZ stable.”

UPL, established in 1985, operates as a leading supplier of pallet wrapping film, machinery, application and optimisation based in Palmerston North covering a New Zealand wide customer base. 

 

Food & Drink Business

Three weeks after its official opening, the $17.14 million Central Coast Food Manufacturing Innovation Hub at Ourimbah is preparing to welcome its first tenants. Food & Drink Business toured the facility to see the production spaces, pilot plant, and training programs designed to grow the region’s $2 billion food and beverage manufacturing sector.

Reploid Group is expanding into Oceania, with the launch of a new sales company in New Zealand. Reploid builds modular plants that use insect larvae to repurpose food waste, having the potential to fill the gap left by Goterra’s collapse into voluntary administration earlier this year.

Welcome to the July edition of PLAY, your monthly wrap-up of the biggest stories shaping Australia's food and beverage manufacturing industry. This month we're looking at court action, a major take-private deal, alleged tomato provenance fraud, new leadership and investment in manufacturing capability. Let's get into it.