Luxury packaging and logistics solutions supplier GPA Global has acquired ASG Print in Poland, giving it a manufacturing presence in Europe, and has widened its footprint in North America with the purchase of Southern California Graphics. We spoke to Vincent Isselin, Business Director France at GPA Global, to find out more about the company’s acquisition strategy and its roadmap for the future.
GPA Global has historically expanded through acquisitions. What was the strategy behind the purchase of Poland’s ASG Print, a producer of folding and rigid boxes?
The acquisition of ASG Print in Poland provides us with a European production facility, enables us to be closer to our customers, and means that we can offer the same expertise as we do in Asia and North America. We also benefit from ASG Print’s three technical and sales offices, in the UK, France and the Netherlands. These span design, graphic creation, prepress operations and prototyping for products that are then manufactured in Poland.
We will be able to serve customers in beauty, wines and spirits and fine foods, but will also continue ASG’s historic activity of packaging for other consumer-goods sectors.
The group already a foothold in Europe via the UK design and product development office of premium coffret specialist GPA Luxury, which was formed following the acquisitions of MW Luxury Packaging and Lucas Luxury in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Do you plan to make further investments in ASG’s Polish site?
ASG Print’s 8,000m2 facility, located just outside of Warsaw, has a skilled workforce and next-generation equipment. However, as the print industry requires regular investments, we come with the will to invest. Finishing and decoration capabilities to better serve high-end markets such as cosmetics could be one area of investment.
What does the acquisition of Southern California Graphics in the US bring to your portfolio? Are further acquisitions on the cards?
As with ASG, our strategy is to acquire factories which offer products and technologies that match our product offer. With Southern California Graphics, we will also benefit from the company’s expertise in large format printing. We now have a strong presence on both the East and West Coasts of the US.
GPA is in an active acquisition phase, with advanced negotiations underway. We want to cover all geographic regions and have at least a rigid box, folding carton and pulp offer in each of these zones.
GPA Luxury recently launched Eco-Logic, a range of biodegradable molded pulp products. What was the idea behind this?
Developed as a turnkey offer, Eco-Logic offers molded pulp products with a luxury finish, feel and décor. From the sourcing of raw materials to optimizing cutting to minimize waste, the range was designed to have as small an environmental impact as possible. We used FSC-certified paper, soy-based inks, water-based white glue, and the foils can be recycled.
You’ve been newly appointed as business development director France, what is your roadmap?
France is a strategic market for us. The idea is to grow our notoriety as a local player in Europe, and to highlight the facets of our savoir-faire.
