Berlin Packaging Acquires Diablo Valley Packaging - 2nd Acquisition in 3 Months
Expands Berlin's Glass Packaging Capabilities, Including Expertise in Wine Spirits Sector
CHICAGO –Â Leading rigid packaging supplier Berlin Packaging today announced the acquisition of California-based Diablo Valley Packaging, marking Berlin's second acquisition in three months and the sixth since 2010. The addition of Diablo Valley Packaging's organization and $125 million annual sales significantly expands Berlin's market penetration in California and the Pacific Northwest, strengthens its glass packaging supply chain, and enhances the company's ability to service customers in the food, beverage, and wine spirits markets due to Diablo's specialization in these areas.
Like the acquisition of Ohio-based Vivid Packaging in September, this transaction is part of an initiative to double Berlin's revenues and earnings by 2017 through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions. All of Diablo Valley Packaging's managers and front-line personnel will remain with the company, creating an organization with more than 650 employees, $1 billion in annual sales, double-digit organic growth, and deep expertise in supplying rigid packaging to markets ranging from food beverage to wine & spirits, personal care, pharmaceutical & nutraceutical, chemical & industrial, automotive care, pet care, and household care.
Customers and suppliers will benefit from:
 • Broader geographic coverage with more than 100 sales offices and warehouse locations, bringing Berlin's packaging consultants and inventory management acumen closer to more customers. Diablo doubles Berlin's footprint in California and strengthens its presence in 40 other states and provinces.
 • Expanded product offerings by bringing together Diablo's relationships with major glass manufacturers in North America and around the world with Berlin's 35,000 SKUs and supply chain focused on plastic, glass, and metal containers, closures, and dispensing systems. Customers now have a stronger one-stop shop for all their packaging needs.
 • More profit-building services for Diablo customers, including structural and brand design, capital lending, quality consulting, warehousing and logistics. Berlin offers these services to customers at no charge in exchange for new packaging business.
 • New growth opportunities for suppliers of both companies, with a combined customer and prospective-customer database numbering more than 50,000 companies. The expanded pool of qualified packaging buyers increases the potential for suppliers to land new business.
All customers will also benefit from Berlin's strong operational backbone, including ISO 9001 certification and a world-class Oracle system that together have produced an industry-leading 137 consecutive months of 99+% on-time delivery for customers using Berlin's warehousing and inventory management programs. This performance helps everyone in the supply chain reduce inventory levels and lower expenses.
"Diablo Valley Packaging and Berlin Packaging have both achieved double-digit growth over the last few years in an industry where low single-digit growth is the norm. As with our company, Diablo's strong performance is a testament to their creative solutions, strong supply chain, and emphasis on exceptional customer service," said Andrew Berlin, Chairman and CEO of Berlin Packaging. "By combining the strengths of both companies, this acquisition helps us meet our high growth goals and solidifies our position as the industry's largest, most comprehensive, and most customer-focused rigid packaging supplier."
"Joining forces with Berlin Packaging aligns Diablo with a nimble innovator in the packaging space while also expanding opportunities for our employees, customers and suppliers," said Peter Reno, CEO of Diablo Valley Packaging. "This is a case of getting bigger and better, accelerating our growth as well as Berlin's, and building a stronger company that can serve the widest possible range of packaging needs."
"I've led Diablo for more than 20 years," said Jeff Jones, Diablo Valley Packaging's majority owner. "To get to an even higher level of performance, I knew we needed to find a partner, and Berlin Packaging was clearly the best choice for us. I look forward to seeing the company evolve and reach greater heights in the future."
The Diablo Valley Packaging transaction closed on November 10. Berlin Packaging previously acquired Pittsburgh-based All-Pak, Chicago-based Continental Packaging Solutions, Connecticut-based Lerman Container, and California-based United States Container Corporation as well as Ohio-based Vivid Packaging.
About Berlin Packaging
Berlin Packaging is North America's only Hybrid Packaging Supplier® of plastic, glass, and metal containers and closures. See PaintTheTarget.com and GreaterFaster.com for more on how the company exists to help people and companies excel. With more than 35,000 available SKUs, more than 150 packaging consultants, and more than 100 sales and warehouse locations across North America, the company has the right products, expertise, and geographic proximity to help customers increase their net income through packaging products and services. Berlin Packaging supplies billions of containers and closures annually as well as warehousing and logistics services for customers of all sizes in all industries. It is the only company in its sector to be ISO 9001 certified, to have Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) certification, and to achieve 99% on-time delivery of its shipments every month for more than 11 years. Related services and specialty product divisions include Studio One Eleven custom packaging and graphic design, Berlin Global sourcing solutions, E3 profit-oriented consulting, Berlin Financial financing for equipment and capital improvements, Berlin Quality advocacy, Dangerous Goods transport, Freund Container & Supply convenience, and Qorpak laboratory supplies. The company can be reached at 1.800.2.BERLIN, BerlinPackaging.com.
SOURCE Berlin Packaging
CONTACT: Maggie Perry, 847.415.9301, mperry@sspr.com
Web Site: http://www.berlinpackaging.com Â
