FDBusiness.com

Lightweighting will remain a big trend influencing RPC Group’s business strategy, according to Pim Vervaat, the packaging firm’s new boss.

Speaking to FoodProductionDaily.com at the company’s ‘Fitter for the Future’ press conference in Germany, chief executive Vervaat said: “Major customers do want to reduce the weight of packaging. We do see a move from glass and metal to plastic.

In tandem with this, RPC would retain its focus on multilayer rigid plastic packaging, which offered prolonged shelf life, as an alternative to the heavier weight materials. “This is a trend we think that’s going to continue over the next five to 10 years.”

One very specific growth area for the company was single serve coffee and tea capsules for foodservice and personal use, he added. “Coffee capsules is one of our markets which is growing rapidly – well over 20% last year.” RPC had produced such capsules for firms such as Nescafe’s Dolce Gusto and Tassimo, he said.

RPC aimed to keep investing in higher added value packaging products in areas such as multilayer applications for food, coffee capsules and pharma, Vervaat told this site.

In addition, after the acquisition of Danish packager Superfos in February 2011, which was now fully integrated, RPC remained firmly on the acquisition trail and aimed to cut two to three deals a year. “Acquisitions could take all kinds of forms: joint ventures; licensing contracts, not just takeovers … We are looking at every type and form of cooperation.”