The UK food plastic packaging division of Rexam (London / UK; www.rexam.com) has been sold to Sharp Interpack (Bridgwater / UK; www.sharpinterpack.co.uk) for an undisclosed sum. The business is based in Yate, Bristol and employs 150 staff. It is a leading producer of MAP (modified atmosphere packaging) trays to the poultry industry and punnets to UK and Irish mushroom suppliers, using patented rotary thermoforming technology.

Commenting on the acquisition, managing director Declan O´Sullivan said: "This is a real strategic opportunity for us. This new division fits with our existing structure bringing a totally different but complementary technology to our own." Sharp Interpack is the UK´s leading thermoformer of rigid plastic trays and has plants at Bridgwater, Somerset and Aylesham, Kent. Over GBP 42m (EUR 62.4m) has been invested in the business during the past four years and the acquisition furthers its aim of leading the rigid plastics packaging sector in the UK and Europe.