Emerald Packaging, one of the nation’s largest suppliers of flexible packaging solutions for the produce industry, has expanded its market-leading production capabilities to Southern California, establishing its second facility in the state. 

The company’s new production facility will run out of Blower-Dempsay Corp. in Santa Ana. Emerald announced the purchase of their flexible packaging assets, for an undisclosed sum. The deal is the first acquisition in Emerald Packaging’s 63-year history and gives the company a well-positioned location to serve produce customers in Arizona and northern Mexico.

The purchase will eventually increase Emerald’s headcount from 250 today to over 300 by the end of the year.

“The opportunity to expand Emerald Packaging’s footprint and acquire the manufacturing assets of Pacific Flexible Solutions checked every box,” says Pallavi Joyappa, President of Emerald Packaging. “We’ve never had a second facility, and this location allows us to set up shop close to a key customer base—while also close to our Union City, California, headquarters—with equipment and capabilities that match our own.” 

Emerald will benefit not only from increased capacity, but a strong geographic link to its largest customers. Emerald will now be only three hours to the Mexicali crossing as opposed to over a day, which is critical to serving customers in that region. This also gives Emerald Packaging redundant capabilities, a critical advantage during any potential business interruption. 

Emerald’s new Santa Ana facility features an eight-color, 52”-wide Windmoeller & Hoelscher printing press, two Nordmeccanica laminators, two slitters, and a thermal oxidizer. The company plans to add slitters with laser and hot needle capability and a second printing press soon. 

“It’s rare to align with another family-owned business that shares such a similar culture and view of how to operate a business, treat employees and support valued customers,” says Brad Jordan, President of Blower-Dempsay Corp. “We look forward to exploring synergies that are mutually beneficial, with the added advantage of having Emerald operate within our Santa Ana facility.”

Global Pouch Forum

Kevin Kelly, CEO of Emerald Packaging, will be a featured speaker at this year’s Global Pouch Forum, which will take place May 27-29 in Clearwater Beach, Florida.

Kelly will present an Innovation Spotlight on “PCR Resin Use in Potato Bag Packaging.” Emerald Packaging recently gained recognition via the Flexible Packaging Association Achievement Awards for its new 30% Food Contact Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Resin for 5 lbs. and 10 lbs. Potato Bags, winning awards for Packaging Excellence and Technical Innovation.

To register for Global Pouch Forum and learn more about the event, visit www.packagingstrategies.com/global-pouch-forum