Germany´s Emsa Holding AG (D-48282 Emsdetten), Europe´s number one in plastic insulation containers, household goods and gardening equipment, has acquired UK market leader for plastic household goods, Addis Group Ltd (GB-Swansea SA 1 7DD). Emsa said the takeover, which boosts sales to around EUR 126m annually, offers considerable opportunities for growth, not only by broadening its own portfolio and allowing it to improve customer focus. The added critical mass will facilitate an expansion of Addis´ position in the European market. On the logistics side, the enlarged group will be better equipped to build up strategic supply relationships and to serve overseas customers, as well as improving capacity utilisation.

Addis has a market share of around 40% in the UK. In 1996, management led by current ceo Chris Papadopoulos bought the company for GBP 20m (around EUR 31m). Emsa recently became a family-owned business. Ceo Franz-Jörg Wulf told Plasteurope.com that there are no plans for a stock market listing in the short term, but he did not rule out this option for the future.