Amcor announced today that Mr Eric Bloom, currently President of Amcor Packaging Distribution (formally Amcor Sunclipse) in th US is moving to Australia to take up the newly formed position of Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing Australasia, reporting to Nigel Garrard.Eric has had 15 years experience in the Packaging Distribution business, and this experience will be directed at a range of opportunities within Australasia including further enhancing the focus on all aspects of customer service,... ...Read more »

Amcor announced on Friday that they strongly dispute the estimate of damages suffered by Amcor customers, put forward in relation to the class action proceeding commenced by Jarra Creek Central Packaging Shed Pty Ltd.Jarra Creek has released to the parties an economist report which estimates, based on a range of disputed and contentious facts and assumptions, that the damages suffered by Amcor customers, should Jarra Creek be successful in its claim, are potentially in the vicinity of $466 million... ...Read more »

Amcor announced today that the settlement that was conditionally reached two weeks ago with Cadbury has been finalised. Packaging firm Amcor had been facing a payout of $235.8 million if Cadbury received the damages they were after for anti-competitive pricing arrangements entered into by Amcor and Visy earlier this decade. How much of that claim Cadbury received remains a mystery, however it is believed that the settlement may have included a minor portion of the damages and a deal to reduce future... ...Read more »

Australia’s largest soft drink producer, Coca-Cola Amatil, is considering making its own plastic bottles once again, seven years after selling their bottle manufacturing operations. The Australian bottler of Coke is seriously considering the proposal, according to a report in today’s Australian Financial Review. Amatil sold their bottle manufacturing operations to Visy in 2002 for $157 million as they focussed on manufacturing, selling and distributing their beverages. However, improvements... ...Read more »

Cadbury has won compensation from packaging heavyweight Amcor for allegedly paying higher prices as a result of Amcor’s four year cartel arrangement with Visy. Beyond their reputation, it is the first time Amcor has received punishment for the collusion with Visy that cost Visy Chairman Richard Pratt $36 million. However, they have managed to avoid a potentially long court case, with an out-of-court settlement likely to be significantly below the $235.8 million sought by the chocolate maker. Amcor... ...Read more »

Confectioner Cadbury is currently discussing the possibility of a multi-million dollar out-of-court settlement with Amcor, according to a report in The Age. Cadbury, one of the largest customers of Amcor, initiated a $235.8 million claim against the packaging giant for allegedly paying higher prices for cardboard boxes, cans and PET products as a result of collusion between packaging heavyweights Visy and Amcor. The claim was first filed in December 2006, but only made it to the courts for the first... ...Read more »

Amcor may not have been fined by the ACCC for the much publicised collusion with Visy, but they could still receive a heavy penalty as the fallout from the cartel arrangement continues to haunt. The packaging giant is set to face the courtroom this week to battle claims made by key customer Cadbury, with the damages case that was first filed in December 2006 to finally make it to the courtroom on Wednesday. The UK-based confectioner is seeking damages of $235.8 million for allegedly paying higher... ...Read more »

Cadbury’s court battle with packaging firm Amcor has again been delayed, with the damages case that was first filed in December 2006 still yet to make it to the courtroom. The UK-based confectioner is seeking damages for allegedly paying higher prices for cardboard boxes, cans and PET products as a result of collusion between packaging heavyweights Visy and Amcor. The $120 million claim centres on the much publicised cartel arrangement* between the two packaging firms, which Cadbury suggests... ...Read more »

SPC Ardmona’s Managing Director has resigned to pursue other interests after almost nine years in the job. Nigel Garrard, who took up the position of MD at the fruit processing company in 2000, will continue his career as the Managing Director of packaging company Amcor Australasia. Mr Garrard helped guide the company through the merger of SPC and Ardmona in 2002 and the takeover by Coca-Cola Amatil in 2005. He has faced difficult trading conditions in recent years as the drought takes its... ...Read more »

Australian packaging giant Amcor has reported net profit for the first half fell 29.5 per cent on write-downs and the negative impact of currency changes. Profit fell 9.5% when one-off items were excluded. “The first half result reflects the defensive nature of many of our businesses, combined with the benefit from translating overseas earnings into Australian dollars at a lower average exchange rate,” Amcor’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr Ken MacKenzie said. “The flexibles... ...Read more »