Graham Packaging begins production of spoonable yogurt containers at new plant in FrancePackaging

06-06-2003: Six production lines in the 23,000-square-foot plant are making custom-designed "pots",based on polypropylene, for a premium spoonable yogurt product that is phenomenally popular in Western Europe.

Graham Packaging invested more than $7 million to build the plant and equip it with proprietary technology for high-speed production.

"This plant further demonstrates our commitment to Europe and to expanding partnerships with key strategic customers," Graham Packaging President and Chief Operating Officer Roger M. Prevot said. "These containers for spoonable yogurt are a natural line extension for us since they build off of our core technologies."

With this plant, Graham now has nine blow-molding plants in Europe-located in Poland, Belgium, Spain, France, Hungary and Turkey. Five of the plants are on site with customers.

Graham Packaging, based in York, Pennsylvania, USA, employs approximately 3,900 people at 55 plants throughout North America, Europe and South America. It produced more than nine billion units and had total worldwide net sales of $906.7 million in 2002. Graham Packaging Holdings Company and Graham Packaging Company, L.P., are affiliates of The Blackstone Group, L.P.