The packaging trend that increasingly favours paper and cardboard continues, and some suppliers seem to be following suit: French packaging group Guillin (Ornans; www.groupeguillin.fr), a producer of thermoformed plastic trays for meat, vegetables and fruit, has announced plans to acquire compatriot paper and cardboard packaging manufacturer Gault & Frémont (Saint-Pierre-des-Corps; www.gaultetfremont.com), which is owned by SME investor UI Investissement (Paris / France; www.ui-investissement.com). Financial details were not disclosed; Guillin said it expects to complete the transaction soon.

With 270 employees at four plants, Gault & Frémont produces paper bags and cardboard packaging for bread, baked goods and confectionery products and for fast-food restaurants, takeout meals and similar applications, with some packaging featuring plastic coating, foil windows and thermoformed PET lids. The products, for which the company regards itself as one of the market leaders in France, are exported to 20 countries. In addition to the headquarters plant over 24,000 m², the company operates two additional production sites in France and one in Belgium. Sales volume in 2019 was reported at EUR 66m.

As of February 2021, the portfolio of UI Investissement also included French plastics processor Anvi (Saint-Germain du Plain; www.groupe-anvi.fr). Last year, Anvi acquired the gardening division of Germany’s Emsa (Emsdetten; www.emsa.com), which resulted in an increase in sales to EUR 38m (see Plasteurope.com of 08.07.2020). The stated goal is to achieve sales of EUR 65m by 2026.