The company is near to completing a new thermoforming hall at Bridgwater, soon to be linked seamlessly to a large, upgraded warehouse and the factory's extrusion facilities.
The site is one of Europe's leading producers of pod packs and rigid shallow APET and PE trays for the meat sector. Last year the Bridgwater operation saw a 20% rise in sales of protein packaging and anticipates 50% growth this year. It also produces bakery and confectionery packaging and ready meal containers.
The investment coincides with the building of a 4,500 pallet space warehouse and other improvements to Sharp Interpack's Aylesham site in Kent, a big supplier of fruits and vegetable packs.
Founded in 1964 in Whitstable, Kent, Sharp Interpack became MY Sharp Interpack in 1986 and, in 1998, was re-named MY Plastics with the acquisition of Borden Rigid Plastics. The business was bought by South African entrepreneurs Douglas and Geoffrey de Jager in 2002, who have since invested £24m in new buildings and equipment. The £60m turnover group, which employs 470 at the two UK sites and a small sales office in Holland, says it may establish further manufacturing and/or sales facilities, most probably in Eastern or Southern Europe, in the short-to-medium-term.
