Acquisition of CENPAC and Festapack

RAJA maintains growth trend: acquisition of CENPAC and Festapack

The RAJA Group is strengthening its leading position in the European B2B mail order market for professional packaging solutions and machinery with two acquisitions: firstly, the 100% takeover of the French company CENPAC, a business sector of the GASCOGNE Group, and secondly, the purchase of the Belgian specialist for individual corrugated boxes and sales displays Festapack. The move thus expands RAJA’s portfolio of customised packaging solutions. The group’s cumulative turnover thus increases by more than a third to around EUR 350 million.

With 4,000 types of goods in stock, 400 employees and a turnover of 121 million euros in 2009, CENPAC is an important player in the packaging materials business in France. “The takeover of CENPAC will allow RAJA to strengthen its position in France while also following its long-term growth strategy in Europe”, explains Danièle Kapel-Marcovici, RAJA’s Managing Director. “This is a unique opportunity to accelerate the development of the Group and to tap new markets.”

Acquisition of Festapack: expansion of the product portfolio

With the acquisition of Festapack, based in Genk, Belgium, the RAJA Group is further expanding its portfolio in the field of packaging and point-of-sale displays for the professional sector. “The acquisition of Festapack will enable us to further develop our existing activities in the field of personalised packaging solutions”, explains Danièle Kapel-Marcovici. “Festapack has a fast, flexible and powerful machine fleet. With its help, we can further expand our customer tribe in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.”

Festapack was founded in 1993. The company produces and distributes personalised corrugated cardboard cartons and point of sale displays very successfully, mainly for customers in Belgium. Festapack is known for its creative design and the high quality of its production. The offer includes consultancy, development and design, as well as production and fast delivery. The production and printing (up to four-colour printing) use very modern, powerful machines that are able to handle small and medium-sized batches. In 2009, Festapack with its 30 employees achieved a total turnover of 5 million euros. Tony Neven is the new CEO of the company and also a member of the RAJA Group Board and packaging expert.

For Rajapack in the Czech Republic, the acquisition means a strengthening of the offer in the medium term, as country manager Gabriela Fabianová explains. With Festapack as a new member of the RAJA Group, we can add attractive customised solutions to our range in this area – a benefit for us and, of course, for our customers.”

About Rajapack

Rajapack s.r.o. is the Czech branch of the internationally operating RAJA Group. The French concern offers its nearly 500,000 customers first-class solutions and numerous products in the field of packaging and distribution. Five logistics centres with more than 100,000 m² of warehouse space enable the delivery of ordered goods to eleven European countries within 2 to 3 days. With 820 employees, the Raja Group achieved an annual turnover of EUR 223 million in 2009. The current offer consists of more than 9,000 innovative and proven packaging solutions with an optimal quality/price ratio. Rajapack s.r.o., based in Říčany near Prague, places special emphasis on comprehensive customer service, a clear approach to environmental protection and professional service for wholesale customers.