Stressing speed & flexibility, St. Louis-based PET and HDPE bottle maker sees purchase of Etten-Leur facility as platform for broader European growth

• Newly acquired blow molding plant to build on Alpha’s existing European operations
• Deal boosts the firm’s stake in rigid food packaging
• Alpha’s approach allows it to cater to the fast-changing demands of today’s market.

Alpha Packaging Inc. announced today that it has acquired a plant in Etten-Leur, the Netherlands, from Graham Packaging Company. The transaction – for which terms were not disclosed – was completed on November 2nd.

Alpha is a leading blow molder of bottles and jars for rapidly growing consumer markets, including the nutrition, pharmaceutical, personal care and niche food and beverage categories. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States, Alpha now operates ten manufacturing facilities, including eight in North America.

The acquired plant is Alpha’s second in Europe, and is just a few kilometers from its existing facility in Roosendaal, the Netherlands, which Alpha launched as a greenfield site in 2010. Alpha is owned by Irving Place Capital, a middle-market private equity firm.

Jeffrey Kellar, Alpha’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said “The acquisition more than doubles our production capacity on the continent making Alpha one of the largest single stage blow molding operations in Europe. The addition of the operation in Etten-Leur significantly expands our capabilities in this geography and supports future European growth.”

Alpha is already a meaningful packaging supplier to the vitamins, minerals & supplements and personal care markets in Europe. The acquisition provides Alpha with a strong foothold in the European food packaging sector. The Etten-Leur facility has earned a grade “AA” certification for the BRC-IoP Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials, which is the highest possible rating for the quality management system for food packaging suppliers.

“Alpha’s business model uniquely positions us to deliver the flexibility, speed and reliability needed in today’s complex marketplace. Brand owners and consumers want diversity in their product options, which requires packaging suppliers to be quick and agile,” added Kellar.

“Alpha provides one of the broadest portfolios of stock bottles and jars as well as custom bottle design and development. Our in-house mold-building capability and flexible manufacturing network help to ensure speed, quality, and cost-effective solutions for our customers.”

Phil Yates, Chairman of Alpha and Senior Advisor at Irving Place Capital, said, “The acquisition of the site in Etten-Leur is consistent with Alpha’s strategy of acquiring successful businesses with complementary customer relationships, product lines, manufacturing technologies and plant locations. Alpha has achieved outstanding growth in Europe and we are confident that this will continue with the addition of the Etten-Leur operation.”