Despite the negative impacts of the pandemic, Danish plastic packaging manufacturer Faerch (Holstebro; www.faerch.com) said it has increased operating profit by 2.5% to a record DKK 683m (EUR 92m). “We have navigated Faerch safely through the pandemic,” said Faerch CEO Lars Gade Hansen, according to the Danish plastics association Plastindustrien (Copenhagen; www.plast.dk).

And his comment could be considered an understatement. With a record output of 6.5 bn food trays, Faerch was also able to expand its operating margin to an impressive 25%. Sales jumped to DKK 2.76 bn as a result of the takeover of three plants from Italian food packaging manufacturer Sirap (Verolanuova; www.sirapgroup.com) in the company’s home market, Spain and Poland (see Plasteurope.com of 10.11.2020).

In addition, the packaging suppler, which recently became a unit of compatriot company A.P. Møller Group (Copenhagen; www.apmoller.com – see Plasteurope.com from 16.12.2020), said it will not rest on its laurels, but wants to grow further through acquisitions. “We will invest quicker – I almost said aggressively – together with A.P. Møller in our recycling activities,” Hansen is quoted as saying. “We can do that because we have an owner with a long-term perspective. This is important because it is a big investment, and you have to have an owner who is in control.”