HARTSVILLE, S.C., May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sonoco (NYSE: SON), the
global packaging company, today opened a new Innovation Center in downtown
Cincinnati, a facility dedicated to providing innovative packaging supply
chain products and services for many of Procter & Gamble's major brands. The
Sonoco Innovation Center is located at 201 E. Fifth Street, Suite 1300, in the
PNC Building.
"This facility is a first of its kind in the packaging industry -- where a
packaging supplier has placed dedicated resources directly next to a key
customer to provide technology, design, brand management, supply chain,
marketing and sales services," said Charles Sullivan, Sonoco's executive vice
president for the Company's Consumer Group of packaging and services
businesses. "We understand that innovation is important to P&G. That is why
we have invested in developing a facility and providing dedicated resources in
Cincinnati. Our objective is to build and strengthen our strategic partnership
by providing P&G better coordination and improved speed to market."
Sullivan said that large consumer product companies, like P&G, are asking
suppliers to provide a wider range of their packaging supply chain needs, and
Sonoco is uniquely positioned to provide the broadest offerings of packaging
products and services in the industry on a global basis.
The 9,150-square-foot Innovation Center will house personnel representing
many of Sonoco's total solution offerings of packaging products and services.
The center will house technology, marketing and account management
representing the Company's full range of packaging capabilities, including
rigid paper and plastic containers, printed flexible packaging, and plastic
and metal ends and closures. The facility will also house designers,
structural engineers, supply chain and account managers for Sonoco CorrFlex,
which provides temporary, semipermanent and permanent point-of-purchase
displays and fulfillment services. In addition, Sonoco-Trident, a recognized
leader in managing global brands, will open its first U.S.-based graphics
brand management service in the Cincinnati area.
Coordinating Sonoco's relationship with P&G is Brad Ross, division vice
president and general manager. "In addition to providing dedicated resources
to many of P&G's brands through the opening of the Sonoco Innovation Center,
we are coordinating this relationship through a seasoned senior executive,"
Sullivan said. "This 'One Sonoco Face' approach reflects our commitment to
providing a single point of contact across all Sonoco business units to
expedite decision making," he said.
About Sonoco
Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a $3.5 billion global manufacturer of consumer
and industrial packaging products and provider of packaging services, with
more than 300 operations in 35 countries, serving customers in 85 nations.
Additional information about Sonoco is available at http://www.sonoco.com.
CONTACT:
Roger Schrum
Sonoco
+1-843-339-6018
roger.schrum@sonoco.com