Polarcup Group (Group HQ: Burgemeester Rijnderslaan 26, NL-1180 AA Amstelveen), the packaging division of international food company Huhtamaki (HQ: Eteläranta 8, FIN-00130 Helsinki) has strengthened its Italian operations through the purchase of a 63% stake in the privately held Italian company Monoservizio Bibo S.p.A. (Via E. De Nicola 20, I-Settimo Torinese / TO). Monoservizio Bibo is a manufacturer of polystyrene packaging and catering products. It operates 2 plants, with its main site near Turin making PS thermoformed food containers, while a second smaller plant, MB Sud S.r.l (Zona Industriale I-84021 Buccino / SA), makes injection moulded PS cups and cutlery. The company is also involved in paper-based catering products. Polarcup is already involved in the Italian market through a subsidiary established in 1993 near Parma in Northern Italy. The deal will enhance Polarcup's Italian operations giving it market leadership in some segments.

In a separate earlier announcement, Polarcup has taken steps to enter the Turkish market, through the acquisition of a 50% interest in Güven Plastik Sanaysi AS. This company is Turkey's leading manufacturer of rigid thermoformed plastic containers for the food industry.