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Universal Packaging (UPL) and Spicers have entered into a share sale agreement, effective as of 30 November.

According to Morgan John, general manager, Spicers NZ, the merger will see each company operating independently, with business as usual for its customers and suppliers.

“We expect Spicers NZ and UPL can bring operational benefits to our customers in the short term as well as broaden each other’s product offering by sharing portfolios for our customers benefit. Over the next six months we will forge further plans on how the businesses work closer together," he said.

UPL owners Matthew Goudie, Jed Goudie and Matthew Goddin say that they are excited to join Spicers NZ. 

“Since 1985 Universal Packaging has focused on serving the nation's leading brands and ensuring its success through cost effective and environmentally safe load containment. This move brings all our customers access to a greater industrial packaging offering and product expertise,” they said.

John confirmed that he, too, is excited that the UPL team is joining Spicers.

“This makes good on our plans to invest in our Paper, Sign & Display and Industrial Packaging businesses. Alongside our historical position in paper, we have grown our Sign & Display business to be a market leader via Total Supply including the Sign Technology and Blueprint acquisitions over the last seven years,” he said.

“Industrial Packaging is a key focus and has been a growth area for Spicers NZ in recent years, with UPL joining us we collectively have a greater offering of packaging products for our customers. Furthermore, we now have a footprint in Palmerston North to offer our customers in the wider region all products in our NZ stable.”

UPL, established in 1985, operates as a leading supplier of pallet wrapping film, machinery, application and optimisation based in Palmerston North covering a New Zealand wide customer base. 

 

Food & Drink Business

The University of Sydney and Peking University have launched a Joint Centre for Food Security and Sustainable Agricultural Development, which will support research into improving the sustainability and security of food systems in Australia and China.

Sydney-based biotech company, All G, has secured regulatory approval in China to sell recombinant (made from microbes, not cows) lactoferrin. CEO Jan Pacas says All G is the first company in the world to receive the approval, and recombinant human lactoferrin is “next in line”.

Fonterra Co-operative Group has announced the company is on track to meet its climate targets, and has turned off the coal boiler at its Waitoa site, making its North Island manufacturing entirely coal free.