Berry Global planning $110M expansion

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) — Evansville-based Berry Global Group Inc. (NYSE: BERY) has announced plans to expand its foodservice packaging manufacturing operations throughout North America. The company says the $110 million investment will add 200 jobs at its facilities, though it was not immediately clear which locations will benefit.

Berry Global says the investment will expand its proprietary polypropylene thermoforming capabilities, which will manufacture clear drink cups and lids for quick-service restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores and other foodservice markets. The company says the clear design fills an increasing demand among foodservice groups, especially for more sustainable packaging options.

Polypropylene, according to Berry, offers lower greenhouse gas emissions and the clear cups and lids the expansion will produce can be recycled into new packaging.

“Foodservice brands are moving to meet their own sustainability goals, and polypropylene provides one of the lowest impact substrate options to help them get there,” Bill Norman, president of Berry Global Consumer Packaging North America, said in a news release. “With Berry’s long record of innovation in foodservice packaging and this expanded capacity, we will deliver on the need to bring greater circularity to the disposable beverage cup market.”

Berry Global says the expansion is expected to be complete in 2022.