Kruger
Kruger Packaging's Elizabethtown, KY plant — Kruger Inc.'s first U.S. corrugated facility — manufactures 100% recycled corrugated boxes, die-cuts, and dividers for food & beverage, agriculture, floral, and industrial customers across the U.S. Midwest and Southeast.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1904
- HeadquartersElizabethtown, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kruger does
Kruger Packaging operates a 400,000+ square-foot corrugated packaging manufacturing facility in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, producing 100% recycled packaging for U.S. customers. The plant is a subsidiary of Kruger Inc., a fourth-generation Canadian family-owned company founded in 1904, and represents Kruger's first U.S. corrugated packaging operation. The facility was brought online in mid-2022 following a $142 million capital investment and is designed for 2.4 billion square feet of annual production capacity, employing 150+ people.
The plant manufactures six core product lines — regular slotted containers, die-cut custom boxes, print/litho labeled containers, five-panel wrappers, pizza boxes, and dividers/partitions — produced from 100% recycled fiber on automated corrugator and converting lines. It holds EcoVadis Gold certification with a 90th-percentile score, validating its sustainability positioning for procurement-sensitive customers. The business model is B2B direct sales, with custom-engineered specifications per customer order and pricing structured around board grade, dimensions, print complexity, and volume.
The plant serves a diversified customer base across food and beverage, agriculture, floral, industrial chemicals, and packaging goods verticals, with no anchor-customer dependence disclosed in public materials. Sales are primarily to regional Kentucky and U.S. Midwest/Southeast customers, positioning the facility as a logistics-efficient U.S. complement to Kruger's Canadian paper and packaging operations.
Kruger firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kruger
- Legal name
- Kruger Inc.
- Website
- https://elizabethtown.kruger.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1904
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Kruger Packaging's Elizabethtown, KY plant — Kruger Inc.'s first U.S. corrugated facility — manufactures 100% recycled corrugated boxes, die-cuts, and dividers for food & beverage, agriculture, floral, and industrial customers across the U.S. Midwest and Southeast.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kruger industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corrugated Packaging Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Paperboard Container Manufacturing (32221), Paperboard Mills (32213)
- SIC
- Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Paper Mills (2621), Papers & Allied Products (2600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins) (IMAMAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corrugated Packaging (Boxes, Sheets, Pads) (IMALACAA), Recycled Containerboard (Testliner) Manufacturing (IMAMAFAB), Recycled Corrugated Products (Boxes, Sheets) (IMAMAKAH)
Keywords
Where Kruger is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Elizabethtown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kruger business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Corrugated Box Manufacturing: Manufacturing of 100% recycled corrugated containers for various industries including food, beverages, dairy, meat, fruits and vegetables, flowers, chemicals, textiles, clothing and industrial products
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Production positions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kruger product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kruger Packaging manufactures 100% recycled corrugated boxes and containerboard for B2B customers across food & beverage, agriculture/floral, and industrial sectors. The Elizabethtown Plant operates a highly automated corrugator and four ultramodern converting lines, producing approximately 2.4 billion square feet of corrugated boxes annually, with customized design, cost-efficiency, and on-time delivery as core service pillars.
Product overview
Kruger Packaging is a manufacturer of 100% recycled corrugated packaging solutions. The company produces a portfolio of corrugated box products including Regular Boxes, Die-Cut Boxes, Preprint Boxes, Five Panel Wrappers, Pizza Boxes, and Box Dividers. They manufacture containers for diverse industries including food, beverages, dairy, meat, fruits and vegetables, flowers, chemicals, textiles, clothing, and industrial products. The Elizabethtown Plant features a highly automated corrugator and four ultramodern converting lines, producing approximately 2.4 billion square feet of corrugated boxes annually. The company focuses on customized, environmentally responsible packaging solutions with an emphasis on personalized customer service, cost-efficiency, and on-time delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Regular Boxes Standard corrugated box products for general packaging applications across various industries including food, beverages, industrial products, and more.
- Die-Cut Boxes Custom-shaped corrugated boxes produced using die-cutting processes to create unique designs and dimensions for specific packaging needs.
- Preprint Boxes Corrugated boxes with pre-printed graphics and designs applied during the manufacturing process for branded packaging solutions.
- Five Panel Wrappers Specialized packaging solution consisting of five panels that wrap around products for protection and containment.
- Pizza Boxes Corrugated boxes specifically designed for the food service industry, particularly for pizza delivery and takeout applications.
- Box Dividers Internal corrugated dividers and partitions used to separate and protect products within larger shipping boxes.
- Containerboard 100% recycled containerboard manufactured at company mills for use in corrugated box production.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2.4 billion square feet of corrugated boxes per year
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kruger
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kruger technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Kruger partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Feeding America, Kentucky's HeartlandcoreMonthly community service partnership where team members volunteer to pack boxes for the Seniors Program, which provides 8,000 meals monthly to seniors across a 42-county service area in central, south-central, and western Kentucky.
- Commonwealth of Kentucky / Governor Andy BeshearminorState government partnership with site visit by Governor Andy Beshear to tour the facility and meet with management and employees.
- Elizabethtown Community & Technical College (ECTC)coreEstablishment of Kruger Packaging Scholarship providing two $2,000 awards during 2022-2023 academic year to help remove financial barriers for students pursuing credentials in industrial maintenance and business. Also hosts externship visits for professors to learn about manufacturing processes.
- State of Kentucky OfficialsminorMet with Governor Andy Beshear and Congressman Andy Barr during Kentucky Derby 148 to provide update on plant construction.
- T.J. Patterson Industrial ParkminorLocation of the Elizabethtown facility within the city's designated industrial park area.
- Quicksie 98.3minorAnnual toy drive partnership with local radio station. Donated over $1,500 in gifts in 2021, over $2,000 in 2022, and over $3,000 in 2023.
- Freeman Lake / Local Community EventsminorParticipates in community events at Freeman Lake including Children's Fair and various community celebrations.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kruger competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International Paper: One of the largest global producers of corrugated packaging and containerboard, with extensive U.S. manufacturing footprint. A direct competitor to Kruger Elizabethtown for the same recycled-content box and fiber-based packaging customers.
- Graphic Packaging Holding Company: Large U.S. paperboard packaging producer focused on folding cartons and corrugated solutions for CPG customers. Compares to Kruger Packaging as a competing fiber-based converter targeting food, beverage, and consumer goods accounts.
- Greif Inc. Global industrial packaging manufacturer with corrugated and containerboard operations in North America. Competes with Kruger Packaging in the industrial and agricultural segments of the corrugated box market.
- Sonoco Products Company: Diversified global packaging manufacturer with significant paper-based and corrugated offerings. Comparable to Kruger Packaging as a multi-material packaging supplier serving food, beverage, and industrial customers.
- Smurfit Westrock: The world's largest containerboard and corrugated packaging producer following the Smurfit Kappa–WestRock merger. Directly comparable to Kruger Packaging as a competing integrated corrugated/containerboard manufacturer serving overlapping CPG, food, and industrial customers across North America.
- Pactiv Evergreen: Major North American food and beverage packaging producer, including paper-based solutions. Overlaps with Kruger Packaging in food, dairy, and beverage packaging customers, particularly pizza boxes and foodservice-grade corrugated.
- Packaging Corporation of America: Major U.S. corrugated packaging manufacturer with integrated containerboard mills. Competes with Kruger Packaging for similar converting customers and operates comparable automated box plants across the Eastern U.S.
Emerging players
- Novolex (Pactiv Evergreen successor packaging arm): North American specialty paper and flexible packaging converter serving food, beverage, and retail customers. Comparable to Kruger Packaging as a paper-based converter addressing overlapping CPG and foodservice accounts.
Regional players
- Mondi Group: European-headquartered global packaging and paper group with significant containerboard and corrugated operations. Comparable to Kruger Packaging in product offering though primarily a regional competitor in Europe rather than directly in North America.
Direct peers
- Cascades Inc. Canadian-headquartered manufacturer of recycled containerboard and corrugated packaging, with a strong focus on sustainability and 100% recycled products — a near-identical strategic positioning to Kruger Packaging and a direct competitor in North American markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kruger social profiles
Digital presenceKruger compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Kruger financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kruger leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Kruger subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Kruger funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kruger 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 Kruger
What does Kruger do?
Kruger Packaging manufactures 100% recycled corrugated boxes and containerboard for B2B customers across food & beverage, agriculture/floral, and industrial sectors. The Elizabethtown Plant operates a highly automated corrugator and four ultramodern converting lines, producing approximately 2.4 billion square feet of corrugated boxes annually, with customized design, cost-efficiency, and on-time delivery as core service pillars.
Is Kruger a public or private company?
Kruger is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Kruger founded?
Kruger was founded in 1904. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Kruger based?
Kruger is headquartered in Elizabethtown, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kruger make money?
One revenue line is on record: corrugated Box Manufacturing.
Who are Kruger's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International Paper, Graphic Packaging Holding Company, Greif Inc., Sonoco Products Company, Smurfit Westrock, Pactiv Evergreen and Packaging Corporation of America. Novolex (Pactiv Evergreen successor packaging arm) is listed as an emerging player. Mondi Group is listed as a regional player. Cascades Inc. is listed as a direct peer.
Does Kruger have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kruger.
What industry is Kruger in?
Kruger's product category is Corrugated Packaging Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAHAA, Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins), with a secondary code of IMALACAA, Corrugated Packaging (Boxes, Sheets, Pads). Its NAICS code is 322211 and its SIC code is 2650.