Packaging: Austria’s Alpla Company invests in Morocco, gateway to regional market

Austrian packaging leader Alpla announced on Thursday the acquisition of a majority stake in Atlantic Packaging firm of Moroccan Diana Holding and the setting up of a joint venture “ALPLA Morocco” to meet growing demand.

In a press release issued Thursday, Alpla group said the transaction will enable it to enhance its presence in North Africa with its market entry in Morocco and setting the course for growth in the Maghreb and Western africa.

At its plant in Tangier Free Zone, Atlantic Packaging produces PET preforms for the beverage industry, plastic pallets and packaging films. Preform production has recently been tripled through investments in new machinery.

“By acquiring a majority stake in Atlantic Packaging and establishing a joint venture with Diana Holding, Alpla is contributing its expertise and experience to the production of PET preforms for the regional markets in the Maghreb and for Western Africa”, said the Austrian group.

Alpla pledges to increase in the coming years the portfolio of the Moroccan site through further local activities, potentially including bottle and closure production.

“With our strategic partner Diana Holding, we want to exploit the enormous potential of the regional markets, open up new segments and contribute our expertise as a global system provider for preforms, bottles and closures,” said Christian Fessler, Managing Director Middle East and North Africa at ALPLA.

In addition to its packaging subsidiary, Diana Holding is primarily active in the agro-industrial sector. Through this joint venture, the family-run group is strengthening its packaging division, which was founded in 2007, by capitalising on its substantial bottling experience garnered over nearly 50 years as the former Coca-Cola Company bottler in the northern region of Morocco.

“Our joint vision is to be one of the leading suppliers of high-quality plastic packaging in Morocco and for Western Africa, and to offer innovative solutions”, said Rita Maria Zniber, CEO of Diana Holding.