IML Containers

What IML Containers does

IML Containers is a privately held Canadian packaging manufacturer headquartered in Saint-Placide, Quebec, founded in 1998/1999 as the North American arm of the Lacroix Group, a Quebec family business producing cheese packaging since 1946. The company specializes in plastic injection molding using in-mold labeling (IML) technology, in which pre-printed polypropylene labels are integrated directly into containers during the molding process. Through its Lacroix Packaging subsidiary, IML Containers also produces thermoformed wood and custom cardboard food packaging, including multi-material combinations. Its core technical capabilities include offset printing up to 6 colors, EVOH oxygen-barrier construction for extended shelf life, thin-wall molding that yields containers reported to be 1+ gram lighter than thermoformed alternatives, tamper-evident closure options, and 100% mono-material polypropylene #5 packaging designed for full recyclability with zero-migration inks.

The company serves the food industry, primarily dairy, frozen foods, and consumer packaged goods brands, with a direct B2B sales motion built around dedicated project managers guiding customers from concept and 3D design through prototyping, mold design, printing, fabrication, warehousing, and logistics. All steps are performed in-house across owned production sites. Pricing is quote-based: standard containers with personalized labels carry a 100,000-label minimum (25,000 per flavor) and a 6-8 week lead time, while custom containers require direct consultation and run 26-28 weeks. IML Containers operates manufacturing and printing facilities in Saint-Placide and Saint-Eustache, Quebec; an Iowa injection plant (160,500 sq ft, ~50 employees, 180+ million pieces per year); an Arizona injection plant (40,000 sq ft, 40 employees); sales and printing operations in Illinois; and an injection factory in Colombia opened in 2014. The company maintains multilingual websites (French, English, Portuguese, Spanish) reflecting its cross-border Americas presence. No external institutional funding, acquisitions, or public listing are disclosed; the business is privately held within the Lacroix family enterprise and reportedly grew to roughly 200 employees within its first decade of North American operations.

Name

IML Containers

Legal name

IML Containers

Website

https://iml.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

IML Containers is a Canadian IML plastic injection molding manufacturer serving the food packaging industry with branded containers, plus wood and cardboard packaging via its Lacroix Packaging subsidiary, operating production facilities across Canada, the United States, and Colombia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (326199), Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging Injection Molding (Caps, Closures, Thin-Wall, IML) (IMANAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

In-Mold Labels (IML) (IMALAKAC), Rigid Food Containers (Cups, Trays, Clamshells) (IMALAAAD), Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins) (IMAMAHAA)

Keywords

• Plastic packaging containers
• In-mold labeling
• Food packaging solutions
• Wooden cheese packaging
• Custom injection molding

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-placide

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. IML Plastic Container Sales: Manufacturing and selling plastic containers with integrated in-mold labels for food packaging applications. Custom shapes, sizes, colors, and closures available.
2. Wood Packaging Sales: Thermoformed and stapled wood food packaging under Lacroix Packaging subsidiary. Customization options include pyrography, typography, pad printing, and wood staining.
3. Cardboard Packaging Sales: Custom cardboard food packaging with offset printing, glue assembly, crimping, and stamping processes. Multi-material options combining plastic, wood, and cardboard.
4. Integrated Services: Comprehensive services including 3D design, prototyping, mold design, manufacturing lines design, quality control, warehousing, and logistics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

IML Containers manufactures custom plastic packaging containers using In-Mold Labeling (IML) technology, along with wooden cheese packaging and cardboard packaging products for the food industry. The company serves food producers and processors with three core product lines — plastic IML containers, wood packaging, and cardboard packaging (sold under the Lacroix Packaging brand) — produced across manufacturing facilities in Quebec, the United States (Iowa, Arizona, Illinois), and Colombia.

Product overview

IML Containers operates as a packaging specialist offering three core product lines: Plastic Containers with IML (In Mold Labeling) technology, Wood Packaging under the Lacroix Packaging sub-brand, and Cardboard Packaging also under Lacroix Packaging. The IML plastic containers are produced using in-mold labeling — a process where pre-printed polypropylene labels are injected directly into the container during molding, offering offset printing up to 6 colors, thin-wall and barrier (EVOH) options, and sealable or tamper-evident closures. Wood and cardboard packaging are supplied by Lacroix Packaging, providing natural-appearance and multi-material packaging solutions. Supporting the core products, IML Containers offers integrated services including an IML printing process, end-to-end integrated solutions (design, prototyping, mold making, printing, fabrication, warehousing, logistics), and dedicated project management. The company operates its own printing factories, R&D laboratory, injection molding plants, and warehouses across North and South America, enabling a fully in-house production workflow.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Plastic IML Containers Custom plastic packaging containers manufactured via In-Mold Labeling (IML), in which a decorative label is fused into the container during the injection molding process to produce a durable, food-safe, fully decorated package. Sold to food producers and processors requiring branded, robust plastic packaging.
• Wooden Cheese Packaging Wooden packaging products designed specifically for cheese and cheese-aging applications, sold under the Lacroix Packaging brand. Targeted at cheese producers and dairy processors requiring traditional wood-based cheese packaging formats.
• Cardboard Packaging Cardboard packaging products (including shipping and secondary packaging) sold under the Lacroix Packaging brand, offered alongside the company's plastic and wooden packaging to provide multi-material packaging programs for food-industry customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 8-color PMS quality printing resolution on IML labels
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Groupe LacroixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroupe Lacroix is the parent family company that founded IML Containers in 1999 as part of global expansion. Lacroix has produced cheese packaging since 1946. Lacroix Packaging is a subsidiary specializing in wood and cardboard food packaging, offering thermoformed wood options with customization including pyrography, typography, pad printing and wood staining.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Berry Global Group: Large global plastic packaging manufacturer with significant rigid container and IML capabilities serving food and consumer products. Comparable as a major North American rigid plastic packaging competitor with much broader scale.
• Silgan Holdings: Major North American rigid plastic and metal container producer with strong food customer base. Comparable as an established food-packaging incumbent across multiple container formats.
• Sonoco Products: Global packaging company with both rigid plastic and paper-based packaging serving food customers. Comparable as a multi-material food packaging incumbent with broader scale.
• AptarGroup: Global supplier of dispensing systems and plastic packaging components for food, personal care, and home. Comparable as a specialty rigid plastic packaging supplier serving CPG customers with integrated solutions.
• ALPLA Group: Austrian-headquartered global rigid plastic packaging manufacturer with North American operations. Comparable as a large-scale injection and blow-molded packaging producer serving food and beverage customers.
• Reynolds Consumer Products: Producer of consumer packaging including food containers and paper-based packaging. Comparable as a multi-format food and household packaging supplier with scale advantages.
• Pactiv Evergreen: Major North American producer of food service and food merchandising packaging including rigid plastic and paperboard. Comparable as a large incumbent serving food customers across container formats.

Direct peers

• Plastipak Holdings: Privately held rigid plastic container manufacturer specializing in PET and HDPE packaging for food, beverage, and consumer goods. Comparable as a direct competitor in injection and blow-molded rigid food packaging.
• Coveris Holdings: European-headquartered flexible and rigid plastic packaging manufacturer with North American operations serving food customers. Comparable as a multi-material food packaging specialist.

Others

• Groupe Lacroix: French family-owned parent company of IML Containers with 20 production sites globally and heritage in cheese packaging since 1946. Comparable as the strategic parent and source of multi-material packaging expertise and global capacity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about IML Containers