What Emerald Packaging does

Emerald Packaging is a privately held B2B flexible packaging manufacturer founded in 1963 and headquartered in Union City, California, with a second production facility established in Santa Ana in May 2026 through the acquisition of Blower-Dempsay Corp. assets. The company designs and manufactures roll stock, bags, pouches, and proprietary eLID lidding films for produce, food, and consumer goods customers, with capabilities spanning 10-color flexographic printing, HP Indigo 20000 digital printing for short runs, laser and hot-needle microperforation, Inno-Lok zipper application, and 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) food-contact packaging with FDA No Objection Letter certification.

The company operates from a combined 225,000 sq. ft. of California manufacturing space running 32 high-speed bag lines producing 5.8 million units daily, and serves marquee enterprise customers including Taylor Farms, Duda Farms, Grimmway Farms, Dole, Walmart, Trader Joe's, Aldi, and HEB. Its go-to-market is a direct B2B sales-led model led by Director of Sales Todd Somers, with revenue generated from hardware product sales priced on a quote basis tied to specifications, volume, materials, and print complexity.

Emerald Packaging self-describes as the largest produce packaging supplier in the United States, supported by six decades of customer relationships, industry recognition (2026 FPA Achievement Award, 2026 FTA Printer of the Year, FSSC 22000, AIB scores above 95% since 2011), and active engagement on sustainability policy including Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastics Economy, USFFI membership, California Green Business certification, and lobbying through the Western Growers Association.

Name

Emerald Packaging

Legal name

Emerald Packaging

Website

https://empack.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Emerald Packaging is a privately held B2B flexible packaging manufacturer founded in 1963 that produces roll stock, bags, pouches, and proprietary lidding films for major produce growers, food companies, and retail private label brands across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flexible Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111)

SIC

Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags (2673)

akta.pro primary industry

Flexible Plastic Packaging (Bags, Pouches, Sachets) Manufacturing (IMANAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Lidding, Sealant & Packaging Webs (Heat-Seal, Peelable, Retort Lids) (IMALABAG)

Keywords

• Flexible packaging manufacturing
• Food contact packaging
• Produce packaging solutions
• Custom printed packaging
• Sustainable packaging films

Headquarters

HQ city

Union City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Flexible Packaging Manufacturing and Sales: B2B manufacturing and sales of flexible packaging products (roll stock, bags, pouches, lidding films) to produce industry, food, and consumer goods companies. Revenue generated from product sales with pricing likely based on volume, specifications, and material content.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Emerald Packaging is a B2B flexible packaging manufacturer that produces roll stock, bags, pouches, and proprietary eLID lidding films for the produce, food, and consumer goods industries. The company offers custom printing (up to 10-color flexographic and HP Indigo digital), sustainable packaging solutions including 30% PCR content and compostable films, and serves enterprise growers, shippers, and retailers from its California manufacturing facilities.

Product overview

Emerald Packaging is a B2B flexible packaging manufacturer producing roll stock, bags, pouches, and lidding films for the produce and food industries. The core product portfolio consists of Roll Stock (two-ply/three-ply structures for form fill seal machines), Bags (wicketed, non-wicketed, zipper, and specialty closure options), Pouches (Doypack, stand-up, and specialty seal configurations), and eLID Lidding Films (peelable, resealable, and shred tamper-evident options). The company also offers sustainable packaging solutions including PCR (post-consumer recycled) content up to 30%, fully recyclable films, compostable materials meeting ASTM D6400, and bio-based resin options. All products can be customized with features such as laser/hot-needle perforation, anti-fog coatings, high-definition graphics up to 225-line screen printing, and various closure systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Roll Stock Surface printed and laminated two-ply or three-ply structures designed for vertical and horizontal form fill and seal machines, with laser and hot-needle perforation capabilities. Used by produce and food manufacturers on automated packaging lines.
• Bags Pre-made surface printed bags available in multiple styles including wicketed, non-wicketed, wicketless, twin seal, zipper, and flip lip options, with hermetic and back seam configurations. Sold to produce growers and food manufacturers.
• Pouches Laminated films optimized for form fill and seal pouch machines or pre-made pouches including Doypack, angle bottom, 3-side seal, back seal, K-seal stand up, and reinforced handle configurations. Targeted at consumer-facing food and produce brands.
• eLID Lidding Films Proprietary custom-engineered lidding films for food packaging including peel (single use), reseal (multi-use), and shred (tamper evident) options, with embedded or coated anti-fog and perforation capabilities. First-to-market reseal technology for fresh cut produce.
• PCR Packaging (Post-Consumer Recycled) Packaging made from up to 30% post-consumer recycled food contact resin carrying an FDA No Objection Letter, designed to reduce virgin plastic use while maintaining product performance for retailers requiring 20%+ PCR content.
• Field Pack Produce Packaging Flexible packaging solutions for field-packed produce including vented bags/pouches, hermetic sealed bags, wicketed bags, stand-up pouches, laser and hot-needle perforated films, and anti-fog coatings. Designed for fresh produce growers and shippers.
• Sustainable Packaging Solutions Sustainable flexible packaging options including recyclable films, compostable materials meeting ASTM D6400 standard, bio-based resins from renewable sources, and downgauging/right-sizing services for reducing material use.

Quantifiable outcome

• Replaced over 1 million pounds of virgin polyethylene with post-consumer recycled material in one year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Flexible Film Initiative (USFFI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2026Emerald joined USFFI to demonstrate economic viability of recycling flexible films and support the broader industry effort to align with California's law requiring all single-use packaging to be recyclable or compostable by 2032.
• U.S. Flexible Film Initiative (USFFI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2026Emerald Packaging became the first flexible manufacturer to join USFFI, a nonprofit coalition of major consumer brands working to build scalable recycling systems for flexible plastic packaging. The coalition provides subsidies to bridge the gap between recycling costs and profitable sale prices. Emerald made a major financial contribution to the initiative as part of California's SB 54 extended producer responsibility program implementation requiring all single-use packaging to be 100% recyclable by 2032.
• Western Growers AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmerald Packaging lobbies on behalf of produce growers and shippers through the Western Growers Association to advocate for favorable packaging regulations and sustainability legislation.
• Western Plastics AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmerald Packaging participates in the Western Plastics Association for industry advocacy and policy engagement on packaging regulations.
• Ellen MacArthur Foundation (New Plastics Economy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmerald Packaging is one of the few packaging organizations that has joined the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, signaling commitment to circular economy principles and plastic pollution reduction.
• Wada FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to introduce PCR (post-consumer recycled) flexible packaging bags, reducing virgin plastic use and carbon emissions while maintaining product performance standards.
• Idaho PackageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on PCR bag initiative to develop flexible packaging with post-consumer recycled content for sustainability goals.
• D'Arrigo Bros.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PCR bag initiative to introduce sustainable packaging with reduced virgin plastic content.
• WalmartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalmart collaborated with Emerald Packaging to introduce the first 30% post-consumer recycled bag for the potato category. Emerald is also collaborating with Walmart on Project Gigaton sustainability goals to reduce or avoid 1 billion metric tons of GHG emissions across value chains by 2030.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Printpack: Privately held flexible and specialty packaging manufacturer with roll stock, pouches, and lidding capabilities serving food and consumer goods. Closely comparable in product mix and customer base.
• Inteplast Group: Privately held manufacturer of plastic films, bags, and flexible packaging products serving food, retail, and industrial customers. Comparable mid-sized private competitor with overlapping bag and film capabilities.
• Coveris: European-headquartered flexible packaging manufacturer with North American operations producing films, pouches, and bags for food and consumer products. Direct comparable in product portfolio and B2B model.
• Glenroy, Inc. Custom flexible packaging converter producing pouches, roll stock, and lidding for food, beverage, and personal care. Comparable mid-sized privately held converter serving similar B2B customers.
• ProAmpac: Private flexible packaging manufacturer offering bags, pouches, and roll stock with sustainability-focused product lines (recyclable, PCR, compostable). Direct competitor across Emerald's core product categories and target verticals.
• Winpak: Manufacturer of high-quality flexible and rigid packaging materials including films, lidding, and pouches primarily for food, beverage, and personal care. Comparable product mix and customer verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Berry Global (now part of Amcor): Large diversified packaging manufacturer with significant flexible packaging, films, and bags operations. Operates at a far broader scale than Emerald across multiple packaging substrates.
• Sealed Air: Global packaging company with food and protective packaging lines including flexible films and lidding. Overlaps with Emerald in food packaging, particularly lidding and fresh-produce-adjacent categories.
• Sonoco Products: Diversified global packaging manufacturer with flexible and paper-based packaging serving food, produce, and consumer goods. Comparable in produce/food vertical but with broader portfolio and public-company scale.
• Constantia Flexibles: Global flexible packaging group serving food, beverage, and pharma with films, lidding, and pouches. Comparable in core flexible packaging categories and sustainability focus; larger and more geographically diversified.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emerald-packaging
• Facebookfacebook.com/183921638311136

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Emerald Packaging