Northern Container
Northern Container is a rigid industrial packaging distributor based in Alsip, Illinois, founded in 1976. It stocks and ships plastic pails, steel pails, metal cans, tubs, bottles, jars, and closures nationwide, serving industrial, food and beverage, wholesale, and small business customers as part of Novvia Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersAlsip, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Northern Container does
Northern Container is a rigid industrial packaging distributor headquartered in Alsip, Illinois, operating since 1976 and shipping nationwide across the continental United States. The company stocks and sells plastic pails (HDPE, open head, screw top, and tight head configurations), steel pails, metal cans and tins (paint cans, ink cans, F-style cans, utility cans, screw top cans), plastic tubs (industrial and dairy/FDA-approved), HDPE bottles and jars (4 oz to 2.5 gallons), and a range of closures and caps. Products are sourced from major manufacturers including Berry Global, Mauser Packaging Solutions, Century Container, DKM Manufacturing, Orca Inc., Van Blarcom, and National Novelty Brush Company, with many items meeting FDA approval standards and select pails carrying UN certifications for hazardous materials transport. Northern Container holds a patent on a breathable no-gasket cover design for screw-top pails that provides moisture resistance and pressure equalization.
The business operates a stocking distribution model with next-day shipping capability from its Alsip warehouse. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales with unit pricing ranging from $0.10 (standard screw caps) to $46.12 (12-gallon screw top pail), supplemented by volume/wholesale pricing tiers, custom offset printing and lithography services (with manufacturer minimums of 3,000-10,000 pieces), and Net 30 open-account terms for credit-approved buyers. Go-to-market combines a self-serve e-commerce storefront with inside sales handling phone, fax, and email orders, plus quote-request workflows for volume buyers. Target customers span industrial and manufacturing (paints, chemicals, adhesives, coatings, lubricants), food and beverage (FDA-compliant packaging), wholesale/B2B, and small business/individual segments.
Northern Container has been owned by Kelso & Company since June 2022 and operates as part of Novvia Group, a national platform aggregating container and packaging distributors. The legal entity is Darco Enterprises Inc dba Northern Container Corp. The company currently reports 1-10 employees and does not publicly disclose revenue.
Northern Container firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Northern Container
- Legal name
- Darco Enterprises Inc dba Northern Container Corp
- Website
- https://northern-container.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Northern Container is a rigid industrial packaging distributor based in Alsip, Illinois, founded in 1976. It stocks and ships plastic pails, steel pails, metal cans, tubs, bottles, jars, and closures nationwide, serving industrial, food and beverage, wholesale, and small business customers as part of Novvia Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Northern Container industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Packaging Distribution
- NAICS
- Metal Can, Box, and Other Metal Container (Light Gauge) Manufacturing (33243), Other Metal Container Manufacturing (332439), Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers (423510)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040), Metal Shipping Barrels, Drums, Kegs & Pails (3412), Metal Cans (3411), Plastics Products, Nec (3089)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial & Chemical Rigid Plastic Packaging (Drums, Pails, Jerrycans) (IMALAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rigid Plastic Containers (Bottles, Jars, Jugs) Manufacturing (IMANAEAA), Rigid Food Containers (Cups, Trays, Clamshells) (IMALAAAD)
Keywords
Where Northern Container is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alsip
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Northern Container business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Product Sales: One-time sale of rigid industrial containers including plastic pails, steel pails, paint cans, metal cans, bottles, jars, closures, and plastic tubs. Products sold individually or in case quantities at wholesale/volume pricing.
- Volume/Wholesale Pricing: Tiered pricing model where pricing varies based on order volume. Customers can request quotes for larger quantities. Special order items and custom printing have separate minimum order requirements.
- Custom Printing Services: Custom offset printing and lithography services available on containers with higher minimum order quantities. Paper label application services also offered for additional fee.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Unit Pricing |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Volume/Wholesale Pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Printing Minimum Orders |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Net 30 Open Account Terms |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Northern Container product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Northern Container is a stocking distributor of rigid industrial packaging — plastic pails, steel pails, metal cans and tins, plastic tubs, HDPE bottles and jars, and closures — sourced from manufacturers such as Berry Global, Mauser Packaging Solutions, and Century Container. The company sells online, by phone, fax, and email with low minimum order quantities and next-day UPS/FedEx shipping from its Alsip, IL warehouse across the continental United States. Value-added offerings include custom offset/lithography printing and paper-label application on qualifying case-quantity orders.
Product overview
Northern Container is an industrial container distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of rigid packaging solutions. The core product lines include Plastic Pails (open head, screw top, and tight head configurations), Steel Pails, Metal Cans and Tins (paint cans, ink cans, utility cans, F-style cans), Plastic Tubs (industrial and dairy), Bottles and Jars (HDPE in various styles from 4 oz to 2.5 gallons), and Closures/Caps. The company operates as a stocking distributor with next-day shipping capabilities, low minimum order requirements, and offers clearance/overstock items at discounted pricing. Products are sourced from manufacturers including Berry Global, Century Container, Mauser Packaging, and DKM Manufacturing, with many meeting FDA approval standards and UN ratings for hazardous materials transport.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Plastic Pails (Open Head, Screw Top, Tight Head) HDPE plastic pails (open head, screw top, and tight head configurations) manufactured by partners including Berry Global, Century Container, and DKM Mfg., for storage and transportation of dry, liquid, or semi-liquid products in industrial and food applications.
- Steel Pails (Open Head and Tight Head) Durable steel pails in open head and tight head configurations with various interior linings, sourced from Mauser Packaging Solutions, for industrial applications including non-hazardous and hazardous solid materials where UN-rated options are required.
- Metal Cans and Tins (Paint, Ink, F-Style, Open Top, Screw Top, Utility) Tinplate metal cans and tins including paint cans, ink cans, F-style cans (pint to one gallon), open top cans, screw top cans, and Unitop steel utility cans (4 oz to 32 oz) for paints, inks, adhesives, and similar industrial contents.
- Plastic Tubs (Industrial and Dairy) HDPE industrial plastic tubs and Berry Global polypropylene FDA-approved dairy tubs in various sizes, including the 5 lb / 86.5 oz round co-poly tub with standard dairy lid, for food-contact and industrial applications.
- Bottles and Jars (HDPE Cylinders, Modern Rounds, Decanters, F-Style, Wide Mouth) HDPE plastic bottles and jars in styles including cylinders, modern rounds, decanters, F-style, and wide mouth ranging from 4 oz to 2.5 gallons, FDA-approved for food-contact applications.
- Closures and Caps (Continuous Thread, Child Resistant, Dispensing, Gasketed, Metal Screw Caps) Closures for bottles, jars, and pails including continuous thread screw caps, child-resistant caps, dispensing caps (turret and yorker), gasketed screw caps, plus Van Blarcom and National Novelty Brush metal screw caps (1\" to 1-3/4\") with multiple lining options.
- Clearance / Overstock Items Closeout pricing on select overstock inventory items (including MKS Plastics 5 gallon mix color plastic pail seconds) at discounted rates for buyers seeking economical non-UN-rated or appearance-secondary containers.
- Custom Printing and Paper Label Application Services Custom offset printing and lithography services on plastic pails, plastic tubs, steel pails, paint cans, and metal screw top cans, plus paper-label application services available for an additional fee, subject to manufacturer minimum order quantities (3,000-piece plastic pails; 10,000-piece tubs/steel pails/paint cans/screw top cans).
Quantifiable outcome
- Next-day shipping on most orders
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Northern Container
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Northern Container technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Northern Container partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Novvia GroupcoreNorthern Container became part of Novvia Group upon acquisition by Kelso & Company. Novvia Group is a national stocking distributor of containers and packaging solutions with domestic and international customers across multiple industries including Inmark, C.L. Smith, Silver Spur, Container Supply, Fox Valley Containers, Rhino Container, Novvia Group Canada, Southern Container, Rahway Steel Drum, and Ocean State Packaging.
- Mauser Packaging SolutionscorePrimary manufacturer of paint cans and steel pails in the US. Northern Container is a distributor for Mauser products including F-Style cans, steel pails, and paint cans.
- Berry GlobalmajorManufacturer of plastic pails including 1 gallon, 3.5 gallon, 6 gallon, and 7 gallon sizes. Also manufactures dairy tubs (5 lb deli tubs). Products made in the USA.
- Berry GlobalmajorManufactures dairy and food-grade plastic tubs meeting FDA approval standards. Produces 86.5 oz polypropylene round co-poly tubs for food packaging applications.
- Century ContainermajorManufacturer of lids for 3.5 to 6 gallon pails. Products meet FDA approval standards (excluding color Black) with uniform 90 mil wall thickness.
- Orca Inc.majorManufacturer of Unitop steel utility cans in sizes 4 oz, 8 oz, 16 oz, and 32 oz. Also known as Monotop, Dauber cap cans, brush-in cans, or RFT cans. Made in the USA.
- Van BlarcomminorManufacturer of metal screw caps and closures made in the USA. Products include 1" and 1-3/4" Delta threaded caps.
- National Novelty Brush CompanyminorManufacturer of metal closures and screw caps made in the USA.
- DKM Mfg.majorManufacturer of plastic pails including 2 gallon, 3.5 gallon lightweight, and 5 gallon sizes. Products made in the USA.
- MKS PlasticsminorManufacturer of 5 gallon mix color plastic pail seconds (overstock/closeout items).
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Northern Container competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Inmark: Industrial container and packaging distributor focused on rigid packaging. Sister company to Northern Container inside the Novvia Group portfolio; offers the closest direct comparison of business model (distributor of rigid containers) and customer overlap.
- TricorBraun: One of the largest rigid packaging distributors in North America, selling bottles, jars, cans, pails, and closures across consumer and industrial end markets. Same core business model of distributing third-party-manufactured rigid containers and competing for similar SMB-to-mid-market accounts.
- All American Containers: Distributor of rigid packaging including bottles, jars, cans, pails, and specialty containers serving industrial, food, and personal-care end markets. Closely aligned with Northern Container's product mix and self-serve/quote-driven distribution model.
- McKernan Packaging: Wholesale distributor of rigid containers (bottles, jars, cans, caps, pumps) including closeout/overstock channels that match Northern Container's clearance offerings. Targets small and mid-sized buyers with low-minimum e-commerce ordering.
- The Cary Company: Industrial distributor of containers, packaging, and specialty chemicals. Overlaps directly with Northern Container's rigid pail/can/bottle portfolio and serves a similar industrial-coatings, adhesives, and chemicals buyer base.
- U.S. Plastic Corp: Catalog and e-commerce distributor of plastic containers, drums, pails, bottles, and labware. Highly comparable self-serve/low-minimum distribution model targeting industrial and small-business buyers; broader product range but core overlap is plastic rigid containers.
- Fox Valley Containers: Sister Novvia Group distributor of rigid containers based in the Midwest. Provides a near-perfect like-for-like benchmark on geography, product mix, and parent platform.
- C.L. Smith Company: National industrial container and packaging distributor that is part of the Novvia Group portfolio. Direct sister-company comparable to Northern Container in both business model and end-markets served.
Broad incumbents
- Berlin Packaging: Largest rigid packaging hybrid distributor/supplier in North America offering containers, closures, and value-added services. Overlaps with Northern Container on rigid containers and closures but operates at much larger scale with broader product breadth including glass, metal, and plastic.
Emerging players
- Sabin Plastic Packaging: Distributor and packager of rigid plastic containers and bottles serving industrial and food-grade customers. Smaller scale than Northern Container's largest competitors but very similar product scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Northern Container social profiles
Digital presenceNorthern Container compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Northern Container financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Northern Container leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Northern Container funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Northern Container M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Northern Container
What does Northern Container do?
Northern Container is a stocking distributor of rigid industrial packaging — plastic pails, steel pails, metal cans and tins, plastic tubs, HDPE bottles and jars, and closures — sourced from manufacturers such as Berry Global, Mauser Packaging Solutions, and Century Container. The company sells online, by phone, fax, and email with low minimum order quantities and next-day UPS/FedEx shipping from its Alsip, IL warehouse across the continental United States. Value-added offerings include custom offset/lithography printing and paper-label application on qualifying case-quantity orders.
Is Northern Container a public or private company?
Northern Container is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Northern Container founded?
Northern Container was founded in 1976. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Northern Container based?
Northern Container is headquartered in Alsip, United States, in the North America region.
How does Northern Container make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are volume/Wholesale Pricing and custom Printing Services.
Who are Northern Container's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Inmark, TricorBraun, All American Containers, McKernan Packaging, The Cary Company, U.S. Plastic Corp, Fox Valley Containers and C.L. Smith Company. Berlin Packaging is listed as a broad incumbent. Sabin Plastic Packaging is listed as an emerging player.
Does Northern Container have an API?
No public API is recorded for Northern Container.
What industry is Northern Container in?
Northern Container's product category is Industrial Packaging Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAAAG, Industrial & Chemical Rigid Plastic Packaging (Drums, Pails, Jerrycans), with a secondary code of IMANAEAA, Rigid Plastic Containers (Bottles, Jars, Jugs) Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 33243 and its SIC code is 5040.