Seda brings packaging knowhow to Wales
manufacturing plant in South Wales, creating 190 jobs.The company
believes that the move will reinforce the presence of the Seda
Group in the UK where, since 1986, it has been producing packaging
for the food service and dairy industries.
The new facility will support the British market as well as new export markets, and will feature new product lines for ice cream, frozen food and confectionery packaging.
The new factory at Hawtin Park, near Blackwood, Caerphilly, was made possible thanks in part to a regional selective assistance (RSA) grant from the Welsh assembly. Andrew Davies, minister for economic development, described the move as "a demonstration of strong confidence in the Welsh economy".
For its part, Seda UK said that it was "delighted with the assistance we have received from the Welsh assembly government, both in the form of substantial RSA assistance and through the provision of a property development grant".
The new factory in Wales is the most recent in a long line of strategic investments. A strong policy of acquisitions in the 1980's saw the company over-take its competitors in the German, Portuguese and UK markets, and during the 1990's the company began to pursue a strategy of investing in green fields sites to build new production platforms.
This says Seda, enabled the group to introduce state of the art technologies and consolidate the position of cost leader in highly competitive markets. This year, the company plans to complete an investment programme worth €130 million.
Seda International Packaging Group, which is headquartered in Naples, Italy, operates 12 plants located in Italy, Germany, Belgium, Portugal and UK. The group reported a turnover of €30 million in 2003. Over 25 per cent of this turnover comes from products patented or manufactured exclusively by Seda, and over two thirds of sales were made outside of Italy last year.
Seda says that it is also strongly committed to investing in research and development in order to create new innovative products. Unilever, Nestle, Coca Cola, McDonalds', Danone and Kraft are among the firm's customers.
