J. Bryan Kitchen

Royal Paper, that produces mainly a range of private label items including bath tissue, paper towels, facial tissues, and napkins, has filed for Chapter 11. At the same time, Sofidel held a groundbreaking ceremony last week to mark the beginning of a major expansion of its paper manufacturing plant in Duluth, Minnesota. As part of the bankruptcy proceedings, Royal Paper has entered into a "stalking horse" asset purchase agreement with Sofidel, aiming to facilitate a sale of its assets and ensure continued operations. Sofidel has a dual approach strategy: maintain strong brand recognition in established European markets while aggressively pursuing growth in the U.S. through private label partnerships. This approach likely enables Sofidel to adopt a less price-aggressive stance in the U.S., where the “brand-less” private label market can resemble an auction-like sales process. Could the relationships forged with U.S. retailers through private label deals be quietly paving the way for Sofidel to secure shelf space for its branded tissue, acting as a strategic shortcut to grow its more profitable branded business? #pulpandpaper #pulp #pulpandpaperindustry #packaging #packagingindustry #strategy #tissue #paper #paperindustry #competitiveness #m&a #marketstrategy

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Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) and Kimberly-Clark (KC) reported contrasting financial performances in Q1 2025, with PCA demonstrating robust growth and KC facing significant challenges.​ PCA's strong performance, driven by increased sales and improved margins, positions it favorably for 2025. However, the company's cautious Q2 guidance reflects concerns over potential trade-related challenges. The Packaging segment experienced a 9.6% sales increase, with daily corrugated product shipments rising by 2.5%. KC faced headwinds from increased costs due to tariffs and declining sales in key segments. The company's strategic focus on core products and cost management aims to mitigate these challenges, but the outlook remains modest. ​ KC lowered its 2025 profit forecast, anticipating approximately $300 million in additional costs due to new U.S. trade tariffs. Note: For details on how tariffs impact each company: https://lnkd.in/dmaKtNYq #pulpandpaper #pulp #pulpandpaperindustry #packaging #packagingindustry #strategy #tissue #paper #paperindustry #competitiveness #marketstrategy #usmarket #packagingusa #tariffs

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Eagle Flexible Packaging Expands in Wisconsin Eagle Flexible Packaging is investing $5 million to expand its Wisconsin facility, adding 30-40 jobs by 2025. This move points to ongoing growth in the flexible packaging sector and a focus on domestic production. As demand for high-barrier, sustainable packaging rises, investments like this support supply chain efficiency and advanced manufacturing capabilities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ezMFsg7P #PlasticsManufacturing #FlexiblePackaging #IndustryNews #Manufacturing

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The pace of change is accelerating quickly and that’s both exciting and challenging to keep up with. On the positive side, the landscape is evolving and improving at a rapid rate. What makes it particularly complex is that even foundational “truths” and long-held assumptions are shifting in shorter and shorter cycles. To help ground the discussion in evidence, here are just a few studies and research findings from highly reputable sources (and there are many more than these). The points outlined in the infographic attached are supported by these extensive field trials and the latest academic research. 1- Certified compostables don't contaminate compost piles. Certified compostable materials and packaging, when processed in appropriate composting facilities, do not contaminate compost piles or adversely affect organic waste streams. Instead, they actually play a significant role in enhancing compost quality and supporting sustainable waste management practices. https://lnkd.in/gTi3nnhR 2- Sorted and decontaminated compostables help yield high value compost This Compost Quality Standards & Guidelines report by Cornell University emphasizes the importance of source separation and contamination control in composting. This report noted that properly sorted and decontaminated compostables contribute to the production of high-quality compost. https://lnkd.in/gi-AiKAU 3- Broad adoption of circular compostable systems would improve outcomes and reduce plastic waste in landfills. This study supports the transition to a circular economy and states it's imperative for reducing the environmental impact of single-use plastics and fostering a sustainable future. https://lnkd.in/g5Ygx8Ku 4- Maximizing organics recovery requires more compostable packaging. This has been supported by the CompostAble Chicago Study (2022). This study of foodservice venues in the Chicago area showed that adopting certified compostable packaging along with proper staff training and clear signage led to increased capture of food scraps and reduced contamination in compost streams. https://lnkd.in/gZfn4zJ5 5- Sorted and decontaminated compostable packaging are valuable revenue channel for composters Composters are now generating new revenue by partnering with take-back programs like the Compost Stewardship Institute (CSI), which supply clean, sorted, certified compostable packaging. These programs handle collection and decontamination, allowing composters to accept high-quality feedstock, charge tip fees, reduce contamination costs, and benefit from long-term brand partnerships, all while producing more marketable, high-value compost. https://lnkd.in/gGqGQFVe

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We know through research that companies vetting suppliers are increasingly looking to streamline their supply chains by minimizing the total number of suppliers while maximizing output from existing suppliers. They want manufacturers that can bridge the gap from prototyping to production and they want to reduce the often significant financial and resourcing costs of switching to new production suppliers when prototyping is complete. To address this, digital manufacturers, like Protolabs, can build agility and efficiency into the supply chains of companies as they navigate every step of their product life cycle. https://lnkd.in/g3jnBHkx

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Recent announcements around major U.S. manufacturing investments have focused a lot of attention on scale. Eli Lilly’s expansion in Indiana is a clear example, with the company increasing its commitment to its Lebanon site from $3.7 billion to $9 billion, including a new $5.3 billion investment. What stands out is not just the size of that investment, but how Lilly is describing its intent. In its announcement, the company emphasized leveraging the latest technology and automation to achieve maximum efficiency, safety, and quality control, while also creating high-wage advanced manufacturing, engineering, and science jobs in its home state. That framing matters. Modern manufacturing expansion is less about adding square footage and more about building environments that can consistently deliver quality, protect people, and scale reliably over time. Automation plays a critical role in making that possible, not as a replacement for people, but as a system that supports safer work, tighter control, and long-term performance. At Edgewater Automation, this aligns closely with what we see in practice. The most successful projects start with clear goals around efficiency, safety, and quality, and then apply technology deliberately to support them. Investments like this set the direction for where manufacturing is headed. The facilities being built today will define how resilient, competitive, and sustainable companies are for decades to come. #EdgewaterAutomation #AdvancedManufacturing #AutomationTechnology

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