BUFFALO GROVE, ILL. — PPC Flexible Packaging LLC, announced its acquisition of StePac, MAPfresh Holdings, a packaging supplier for the fresh produce market, on Feb. 1. With the addition of StePac, PPC now operates 14 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, South America and Israel.

Founded in 1992, StePac originally specialized in nylon film extrusion, offering sterilized packaging to medical and healthcare markets. The company refocused its capabilities on fresh food and produce markets by extending post-harvest shelf life of many high-value agricultural products, including blueberries, cherries, pomegranates, melons and specialty vegetables.

Leveraging extensive experience in material science, StePac’s patented technology creates atmosphere and humidity-controlled packaging, including roll goods, lidding, pre-made bags and pouches. By maintaining product freshness, the company’s packaging can help prevent food waste.

“Over the years, our team and I have built StePac to be a global leader in vertically integrated sustainable packaging for many specialty fresh produce items,” said Asaf Shachnai, chief executive officer of StePac. “Our technologies help deliver produce to customers worldwide through best-in-class, sustainable shelf life extension and preservation. We believe this combination with PPC will provide greater financial and operational resources to support our brand in this rapidly growing market segment.”

StePac currently operates a facility in Tefan, Israel, which houses its headquarters and R&D center. The company serves customers throughout more than 40 countries.

The acquisition will expand upon PPC’s packaging capabilities and its global footprint. PPC offers packaging for healthcare, medical, consumer snack, specialty produce, nutraceutical, bakery, horticulture and pet industries. The company has manufacturing facilities in Illinois, Kansas, Georgia, Utah, Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin and South America.

“StePac has been a recognized technology leader in the boutique produce market for many years,” said Kevin Keneally, president and chief executive officer of PPC. “Through combining PPC's existing portfolio of produce packaging, this acquisition will bring our mutual customers a much more diverse selection of options, ultimately delivering industry-leading sustainable solutions. We couldn't be more excited to have Asaf and his highly talented team of leaders and engineers join the PPC family.”

PPC was founded in 2017 and acquired Kansas City, Kan.-based Plastic Packaging Technologies, LLC in October 2022, expanding its flexible packaging solutions.

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