Fabri-Kal
| Company type | Private (until 2021), now subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Plastic foodservice packaging |
| Predecessor | Kalamazoo Paper Box Company (plastics division) |
| Founded | 1950 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States |
| Founder | Group of seven investors |
| Fate | Acquired by Pactiv Evergreen on October 1, 2021 |
| Successor | Pactiv Evergreen (subsidiary) |
| Headquarters | Kalamazoo , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Plastic lids, containers, cups; Greenware sustainable plant-based products |
| Owner | Pactiv Evergreen |
| Parent | Pactiv Evergreen Group Holdings |
Fabri-Kal is an American manufacturer specializing in plastic foodservice packaging and custom thermoformed products, including plastic lids, containers, and cups. The company is headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan and focuses on materials such as PP, PET, PCR-PET, HDPE, PLA, renewable agricultural pulp, and HIPS.
Company history
Established in 1950 by a group of seven investors who purchased the plastics division of the Kalamazoo Paper Box Company, Fabri-Kal’s name signifies "fabricated in Kalamazoo." The business began operations in a 5,000 square foot space downtown, previously a grocery store. Growth led to a move into a 25,000 square foot facility on East Cork Street in Kalamazoo, followed by the opening of a second plant in Hazleton, Pennsylvania in 1961.
In 1969, the company created a foundation dedicated to providing tuition support for employees’ families pursuing higher education. By 1981, Fabri-Kal constructed a new headquarters in Kalamazoo and launched a third manufacturing operation in Piedmont, South Carolina. Production was consolidated outside Michigan when the original Kalamazoo plant closed in 1991.
In 2008, Fabri-Kal purchased and refurbished a 400,000 square foot facility back in Kalamazoo, which reopened in 2010 with LEED® Silver certification. On October 15, 2015, the company inaugurated a new manufacturing plant covering 100,000 square feet in Burley, Idaho. This site initially hired approximately 50 employees with intentions to grow the workforce to 150.
Fabri-Kal was acquired on October 1, 2021, by Pactiv Evergreen through its subsidiary Pactiv Evergreen Group Holdings for $380 million.
Product lines
- Greenware portion cups and cold drink cups
- Kal-Clear PET beverage cups
- Nexclear polypropylene beverage cups
- RK translucent drink cups
- Juice and kids’ cups
- Portion-size cups
- Alur round containers
- Indulge dessert containers
- Pro-Kal deli containers
- Bowls suitable for microwave use
- Mushroom tills
- Produce clamshell packaging
- Lids
Greenware
The company manufactures sustainable Greenware cold drink cups, lids, and portion cups crafted entirely from plant-based materials rather than petroleum. Every Greenware product is produced exclusively within the United States.