The Italian tissue paper group Sofidel with its subsidiary Sofidel America, has acquired a converting plant in Green Bay with its corresponding business and a new state of the art converting building in Mississippi from the Green Bay Converting Inc. company, has also launched a new greenfield investment in Ohio, and has opened a new head office in Philadelphia (PA).
Green Bay (WI) and Hattiesburg (MS). Founded in 1999, Green Bay Converting (GBC) is one of the most important independent US converting companies, has over 300 employees and carries out converting activities for the North America market, both in the Away-From-Home and Consumer segments.
The assets covered by the acquisition are:
• a 800,000 SF converting plant in Green Bay (WI) the main region for the production of tissue in the
United States, rich in know-how and human resources, where Sofidel already has a presence with its own
converting plant – and the connected activities
• a 400,000 SF brand new industrial building in Hattiesburg (MS) which will house a new converting plant
for a total additional annual production capacity amounting to approximately 65,000 tonnes, to which in the next
few months several production lines will be added at the Hattiesburg location, and a few production lines at the
Green Bay location.
For its part, GBC will continue to run its remaining operations as a contract manufacturer.
Circleville (OH). By replicating its successful strategy already implemented as part of the company’s internationalisation process in Europe, Sofidel has identified Circleville (Pickaway county, in the Columbus area), in Ohio – pending required approvals and favorable due diligence – as an area for launching the first greenfield investment in the new continent, a step which will significantly increase the company’s production capacity.
The selected area, in the Midwest, offers important cities located within a few hundred kilometres and is a wellestablished logistics hub for distribution operators.
Philadelphia (PA). Additionally, Sofidel has also recently set up a new office in Philadelphia (PA), on the East Coast, one of the most densely populated areas in the country which will serve as the new headquarters of Sofidel America.
Sofidel in the USA
The activities announced combine with the recent opening of a new production plant in Tulsa (OK) producing
AFH and consumer Private Label products. As a whole Sofidel is committed to investing more than $ 300 million over three years (2015-2016-2017) in the USA.
«The US market is a key market for our Group, because it is the first in the world in terms of per capita
consumption in the tissue sector», explained Luigi Lazzareschi, CEO of Sofidel Group. «Today, the Sofidel
Group has operations in seven states, and with the recent investments we are creating the necessary conditions
to further increase our service levels and enhance the added value that we offer our customers.»
The company is therefore committed to its growth and development in the North American market. After its arrival on the continent in 2012 with the acquisition of operations in three states, today, Sofidel is active in 7 states; Nevada (Henderson), Oklahoma (Tulsa), Wisconsin (Green Bay), Mississippi (Hattiesburg), Ohio (Circleville), Florida (Haines City), and Pennsylvania (Philadelphia). This geographical expansion in capacity is in line with the Sofidel strategy focused on providing highest quality products and services while being close to the markets in which it operates, and represents the second step in the development plans of Sofidel America.