RPC Group
RPC Group was a United Kingdom-based international manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging and a major consolidator in the European packaging industry.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
RPC Group plc was a large British plastic-packaging manufacturer headquartered in Rushden, Northamptonshire. The company supplied rigid and other plastic packaging to consumer-goods, food, household, personal-care and industrial customers, and became one of Europe's largest packaging businesses before being acquired by Berry Global in 2019. Its products were used for branded and private-label goods associated with companies and products including Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Nivea, L'Oréal, Saxa, Jacob's, McVitie's and Hubba Bubba. The business originated in 1973, when a plastic-packaging production unit was established at Oakham by the Danish group Superfos. Its ownership changed several times during the following two decades. Reed International acquired the plant in 1983, after which it became the subject of a management buyout and operated as Reedpack Containers in 1988. Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget acquired the business in 1990, but a further management buyout returned it to independent ownership in 1991. RPC first entered the London Stock Exchange in 1993. After listing, RPC pursued an acquisition-led expansion strategy. It bought Continental Plastics Europe, which brought 12 European sites, in 1997, and acquired the German injection-moulding business Wiko in 2000. In 2010, RPC purchased Superfos Industries, its former parent, for approximately €240 million, reconnecting the company with the business from which its origins had emerged. Further acquisitions broadened its geographic reach and manufacturing capabilities. Maynard & Harris Plastics was acquired in 2013, Ace Corporation Holdings in China in 2014, and Promens, an international business with approximately 50 plants, later in 2014. The pace of expansion accelerated in the middle of the 2010s. RPC acquired Global Closure Systems, a French maker of bottle closures, in 2016, and British Polythene Industries later that year. It bought the United States-based Letica business in 2017. These transactions expanded RPC's product range beyond conventional rigid containers into closures, polythene products, injection-moulded packaging and larger-format packaging systems. The acquisitions also produced a substantial increase in reported revenue, although the group's scale and integration requirements added complexity to its operating model. RPC's strategy was based on serving large multinational and regional customers through a broad network of specialist manufacturing facilities. Its packaging portfolio included containers, closures, bottles, tubs, jars, films and other plastic formats used in food, beverage, personal care, household and industrial applications. This made RPC a business-to-business packaging supplier rather than a consumer-facing product brand: consumers generally encountered its packaging under the labels of its customers. In March 2019, RPC announced an agreement to be acquired by Berry Global Group Inc. The transaction ended RPC's existence as an independently listed London company and transferred its operations into Berry Global's packaging portfolio. Berry Global was subsequently acquired by Amcor in 2025, meaning that RPC's former activities became part of the enlarged Amcor group. RPC is therefore best understood today as a defunct independent corporate brand and former packaging group whose manufacturing businesses and capabilities survive through successor owners.
History
RPC Group developed from a plastic-packaging production unit established at Oakham in 1973 by Superfos, a Danish industrial group. The unit's later corporate history reflected the restructuring and consolidation of the packaging sector. Reed International acquired it in 1983, and a management buyout in 1988 created Reedpack Containers. Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget acquired the business in 1990, but another management buyout took place in 1991, restoring independent ownership. RPC became a public company on the London Stock Exchange in 1993. Its initial development as a listed packaging group was driven partly by organic manufacturing operations and partly by acquisitions. In 1997, the company acquired Continental Plastics Europe, adding 12 sites across Europe. It expanded its injection-moulding capabilities with the purchase of Wiko, a German business, in July 2000. A significant strategic step occurred in December 2010, when RPC acquired Superfos Industries, its former parent, for approximately €240 million. The transaction reunited RPC with the business connected to its original formation and increased its scale in plastic packaging. The company continued to build its international platform during the 2010s. It acquired Maynard & Harris Plastics, a rigid-packaging manufacturer, in December 2013. In May 2014, it purchased Ace Corporation Holdings, a Chinese injection-moulding company, in a transaction valued at up to approximately $430 million. In December 2014, RPC acquired Promens, which operated around 50 plants internationally, for approximately €386 million. RPC's acquisition programme continued in 2016 and 2017. Global Closure Systems, a French bottle-closure manufacturer, was acquired in March 2016 for approximately €650 million. The deal strengthened RPC's presence in closures and broadened the group beyond containers. In August 2016, RPC bought British Polythene Industries for approximately £261 million. In February 2017, it acquired the American packaging business Letica for approximately $640 million. By June 2017, Pim Vervaat was serving as chief executive, and the company had completed 11 acquisitions since December 2015. The resulting group manufactured a broad range of plastic packaging for food, beverages, personal care, household products and industrial markets. Its packaging was used by major consumer brands, including Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Nivea, L'Oréal, Saxa, Jacob's, McVitie's and Hubba Bubba. RPC generally operated behind the consumer brand: its role was to design and manufacture packaging components and containers rather than market finished consumer goods under the RPC name. The acquisition-led strategy substantially increased the group's scale. Reported revenue for 2016 was approximately £2.75 billion, a major increase over the previous year that reflected the series of acquisitions. The same expansion made RPC an attractive strategic asset in a consolidating global packaging market. In March 2019, RPC announced that it had agreed to be acquired by Berry Global Group Inc. The acquisition ended RPC's independent listing and corporate identity as a standalone public packaging group. Berry Global was later acquired by Amcor in 2025, placing RPC's former operations within Amcor's corporate structure.
- 2025
Berry Global acquired by Amcor
[1]Amcor acquired Berry Global, bringing former RPC operations into the Amcor group.
- 2019
Acquired by Berry Global
[1]RPC agreed to be acquired by Berry Global, ending its independent listed-company status.
- 2017
Letica acquired
[1]RPC acquired the United States-based Letica business.
- 2016
Global Closure Systems and British Polythene Industries acquired
[1]RPC expanded into closures and polythene products through acquisitions of Global Closure Systems and British Polythene Industries.
- 2014
Ace and Promens acquisitions
[1]RPC acquired China's Ace Corporation Holdings and the international packaging company Promens.
- 2013
Maynard & Harris Plastics acquired
[1]RPC acquired the rigid plastic-packaging manufacturer Maynard & Harris Plastics.
- 2010
Superfos Industries acquired
[1]RPC bought its former parent, Superfos Industries, for approximately €240 million.
- 2000
Wiko acquired
[1]The company acquired Wiko, a German injection-moulding business.
- 1997
Continental Plastics Europe acquired
[1]RPC acquired Continental Plastics Europe, adding 12 European sites.
- 1993
London Stock Exchange listing
[1]RPC became listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Products and positioning
A large-scale, acquisition-driven business-to-business packaging manufacturer serving multinational consumer-goods companies and industrial customers through a diversified international production network.
Food packaging
Rigid plastic food packaging
RPC manufactured rigid plastic containers, tubs, pots, jars and related formats for food products. These packaging systems were supplied to food manufacturers and brand owners and were used for products such as sauces, spreads, confectionery and other packaged foods.
Consumer packaging
Plastic bottles and containers
The group produced plastic bottles and containers for household, personal-care, food and other consumer applications. Its manufacturing network supported customer-specific designs and formats rather than a single consumer-facing RPC product line.
Packaging components · 2016
Closures
Through Global Closure Systems, RPC supplied bottle tops, caps and other closure components. The acquisition strengthened the group's position in packaging systems where container and closure engineering are closely linked.
Industrial manufacturing · 2000
Injection-moulded packaging
RPC's injection-moulding operations produced packaging and components for food, household, personal-care and industrial customers. Businesses including Wiko and Ace expanded the group's technical capacity and geographic coverage in this area.
Flexible and film packaging · 2016
Polythene packaging
The acquisition of British Polythene Industries added polythene-based packaging capabilities to RPC's portfolio. This complemented its rigid-container businesses with materials and formats used in flexible and industrial packaging applications.
Brand decisions
2025
Former RPC operations enter Amcor through Berry Global acquisitionM&ABackground
Berry Global, which had acquired RPC in 2019, was subsequently acquired by Amcor.
Action taken
Amcor acquired Berry Global, thereby taking ownership of the former RPC activities held within Berry's portfolio.
Aftermath
The former RPC business became part of Amcor rather than returning to independent ownership.
2019
Agreement to sell RPC Group to Berry GlobalM&ABackground
RPC had grown into a large international packaging group through extensive acquisitions, making it a significant participant in a consolidating packaging market.
Action taken
The company announced an agreement to be acquired by Berry Global Group Inc.
Aftermath
RPC ceased to operate as an independent London-listed company and its operations became part of Berry Global.
Recent events
- 2025
Amcor acquires Berry Global, bringing former RPC operations into the Amcor group[1]
M&A
Berry Global was acquired by Amcor, placing the former RPC Group operations within Amcor's enlarged packaging portfolio.
- 2019
RPC agrees to acquisition by Berry Global[1]
M&A
RPC Group announced that it had agreed to be acquired by Berry Global Group Inc., ending its period as an independent London-listed packaging company.
Sources1 sources
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