Simply Cartons site in Nottingham
© Autajon Group
The acquisition of Simply Cartons gives French packaging group Autajon a foothold in the UK, while Tendero Envases becomes its fourth Spanish site.
Folding cartons and labels specialist Autajon continues to grow through acquisitions. After purchasing South Korea’s Pacific Package, and US company Zapp Packaging in 2022, and Portuguese paper and cardboard packaging specialist GMT Gráficos early 2023, the group integrated Simply Cartons in the UK, and Tendero Envases in Spain at the end of July. The purchase of Simply Cartons gives Autajon its first presence in the UK, where "the packaging market, particularly in the luxury sector, is very buoyant," highlights Sophie Jungers, Autajon Group Communication & Marketing Manager.
Founded in 2006, Simply Cartons is based in Nottingham, with some 200 employees across three facilities. The company provides packaging (folding cartons, gift boxes and advent calendars) for premium drinks, food and cosmetics, and has a strong presence in luxury. It will be renamed Autajon Packaging Simply Cartons.
"Proximity plays a vital role in the Group's relationship with the market and its customers. Whatever the geographic region, we work closely with companies that have a local presence and a strong reputation based on values that are similar to our own. This is all the more true for the UK, which is a more difficult market for outsiders to penetrate. From the outset, Simply Cartons has been able to pick up on trends and be proactive: regularly updated machinery, particular attention to customer relations and a strong events presence have been the keys to its success," Jungers tells Formes de Luxe. She adds: "Together, we will be able to develop our presence in the UK and extend our activities to other markets where the Autajon Group will bring its expertise, such as pharmaceuticals."
Tendero Envases is Autajon’s fourth site in Spain
Spain’s Tendero Envases, historically a producer of shoe boxes, now offers rigid boxes for perfumes & cosmetics and spirits, with a strong position in luxury gift boxes. A family-run company, Tendero Envases will be renamed Autajon Packaging Tendero and will provide Autajon with its fourth site in Spain (the others are Autajon Packaging Durero, Autajon Labels Imprenta Moderna and Autajon Labels Sinel). Its 8,000m2 facility in Alicante employs a staff of 50.
Tendero Envases site in Alicante, Spain produces rigid boxes ©Autajon Group
"Tendero Envases is a key player in the field of high-end rigid boxes, with widely-recognized, long-standing expertise in the luxury sector. The integration will enable us to add to our coffret offer, and to make all our savoir-faire available on the Iberian Peninsula: folding cartons, rigid boxes and labels," says Jungers.
Family-owned Autajon has a presence in 12 European countries, in the US and in Asia. It brings together 40 companies and produces more than 4.5 billion folding cartons and 21.5 billion labels per year.
