The Smurfit Kappa Group in France is feeling the impact of the coronavirus crisis. Local media report that the company idled its packaging plant in Rennes in the Bretagne region in January.
The trade union informs that the affected site is a small plant employing 22 persons that purchased corrugated board from other plants and converted it to corrugated packaging. The site specialised in producing customised corrugated board used e.g. in displays or in heavy-duty packaging.
Sales of the plant have been falling for years, making it unprofitable, the plant manager told local newspaper. The segment is reportedly very competitive and the plant did not have enough customers.
Smurfit Kappa operates around 40 corrugated packaging plants in France. The group also runs four paper mills in the country. The group also runs four paper mills in the country.