Sonoco to handle North American packaging services for LEGO

Sonoco, one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, has entered into an agreement to supply packaging services in North America for the LEGO Group. These services will be provided by Sonoco from a new pack center scheduled to open in Monterrey, Mexico in the first quarter of 2010.

Sonoco and the LEGO Group first began working together in 2006, when the companies signed a five-year contract for Sonoco to supply packaging services for the LEGO Group’s Education and BELVILLE products. That contract has since been expanded to include other retail products and new product launches as well as packing for LEGO’s consumer online brick ordering service.

“We have successfully worked with Sonoco for several years now and we’re very comfortable with their capabilities and the services they provide,” said Michael McNulty, VIP Global Procurement LEGO. “They have a proven track record of providing high-quality, cost-effective service and they’ve been very reliable on their delivery dates.”

Rob Tiede, Sonoco’s vice president – Global Flexibles and Services, said the Company’s work with the LEGO Group successfully demonstrates Sonoco’s ability to develop a pack center business model and leverage it to other markets globally. “We’ve built a business model that’s strictly focused on reliably meeting the needs of our customers,” he said. “Our model is cost effective, it’s adaptable to various geographies around the world, and the turnaround time to startup is very reasonable.”

Sonoco operates locations worldwide, providing strategic packaging displays and service solutions for retail-focused customers. These include service centers, point-of purchase manufacturing facilities, sales and design offices and brand artwork management centers. The Company’s Services operations include designing, manufacturing, assembling, packaging and distribution of temporary, semi-permanent and permanent point-of-purchase displays and supply chain management services, including contract packaging, fulfillment and scalable service centers. Sonoco serves a number of consumer packaged goods companies, including those serving markets in personal care, beauty, health care, electronics, confectionery, office supplies and pharmaceuticals.