Dart Container Corporation

What Dart Container Corporation does

Dart Container Corporation is a privately held foodservice and consumer packaging manufacturer founded in 1960 and headquartered in Mason, Michigan. The company designs, produces, and distributes disposable cups, containers, lids, dinnerware, and cutlery sold under the Dart, Solo, Conex, Anthora, J Cup, ThermoGuard, TamperGuard, ClearPac SafeSeal, SafeSeal, ClearSeal, PresentaBowls, Flexstyle, and Creative Carryouts brands through its primary US entity and two wholly owned subsidiaries — Solo Cup Operating Corporation and Dart Products Europe Ltd.

Dart operates more than 30 production and distribution locations across three countries with a workforce of 13,000 and a product portfolio exceeding 3,000 SKUs. Manufacturing spans five core process technologies (thermoforming, extrusion, steam-chest molding, injection molding, and wet/dry molded fiber) and five material platforms (EPS foam; PP, PET, rPET, OPS, HIPS, MFPP, and mineral-filled plastics; poly-coated, PCF, clay-coated, waxed, and treated paper; and molded fiber). The $32 million Vertical Innovation Center, opened in 2019 on the Mason, MI campus, houses an Advanced Materials Lab and Ideation Design Studio for prototyping, and the company has begun installing the first dry molded fiber production line of its kind in North America under a September 2024 PulPac licensee partnership. Hundreds of patents protect designs across the US, Canada, Mexico, the EU, and Hong Kong, and sustainability credentials include ProPlanet, APR, BPI, SFI Chain-of-Custody, OCS Blue, CONEG, TUV OK Compost, and California SB54 compliance.

Dart makes money by selling physical packaging products at volume through a hybrid go-to-market: dedicated enterprise field sales representatives serve distributors, multi-location restaurant chains, and large foodservice suppliers; broadline foodservice distributors and office supply wholesalers reach mid-market operators; and physical restaurant supply stores plus the shop.solocup.com e-commerce storefront address SMBs and individual consumers. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is quote-based for large volume accounts, with a target 99%+ fill rate supporting reliable supply. End customer segments span restaurants (independent and multi-location), distributors, retail/consumer, convenience stores, K-12 education, supermarkets/grocery, and caterers, with sustainability-positioned products carrying the ProPlanet seal to meet recycled-content, renewable-resource, recyclable, and compostable criteria.

Name

Dart Container Corporation

Legal name

Dart Container Corporation

Website

https://www.dartcontainer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Dart Container Corporation is a privately held, 60+ year-old foodservice packaging manufacturer producing 3,000+ SKUs of disposable cups, containers, lids, and dinnerware across five process technologies, serving distributors, restaurant chains, education, and retail consumers in three countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foodservice Packaging

NAICS

Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219), All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (326199), Metal Kitchen Cookware, Utensil, Cutlery, and Flatware (except Precious) Manufacturing (332215)

SIC

Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080), Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Foodservice/To-Go Packaging (Cups, Clamshells, Cutlery) (IMALAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paper-Based Packaging & Single-Use Paper Products (Paper Bags, Wraps, Cartons) (CRADALAL), Rigid Plastic Containers (Bottles, Jars, Jugs) Manufacturing (IMANAEAA), Bar & Beverage Service Supplies Wholesale (AFAIALAG)

Keywords

• Foodservice packaging products
• Disposable cups containers
• Paper foam packaging
• Custom print packaging
• Molded fiber packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Mason

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foodservice Packaging Products: Dart generates revenue from selling a broad portfolio of foodservice and consumer packaging products including cups, containers, dinnerware, lids, and cutlery. Products are sold in various materials (foam, plastic, paper, fiber) to B2B customers including distributors, restaurants, and retailers. Volume-based pricing with sales rep support for large orders.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dart Container Corporation manufactures and sells a broad portfolio of single-use foodservice and consumer packaging products — including cups, containers, dinnerware, lids, and cutlery — made from foam (EPS), plastic (PP, PET, rPET, OPS, HIPS), paper, and molded fiber materials. Products are sold under the Dart and Solo brands (including the iconic red Solo cup), with a portfolio of more than 3,000 SKUs serving foodservice operators, distributors, retailers, and consumers.

Product overview

Dart Container Corporation is a food and beverage packaging manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of more than 3,000 products primarily under the Dart and Solo brands. The product lineup includes foam cups (J Cup® Insulated Foam Cups), paper cups (Solo® Paper Hot Cups, Anthora™ cups), plastic containers (PET, PP, OPS, HIPS), molded fiber products (DART® Compostable Fiber Hinged Trays and Containers), and dinnerware across foam, paper, and plastic materials. The company provides sustainability-focused products through its ProPlanet™ Seal program, offering recyclable, compostable, and recycled-content options. Products serve foodservice operators, distributors, and retail consumers with specialized solutions for delivery, takeout, and dining applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Solo: Consumer and foodservice brand offering cups, plates, bowls, and containers, including the iconic red Solo cup. Operated under Solo Cup Operating Corporation, a subsidiary of Dart Container Corporation.
• ProPlanet
• The Vertical
• Conex
• Anthora
• J Cup
• ThermoGuard
• TamperGuard
• ClearPac SafeSeal
• SafeSeal
• ClearSeal
• PresentaBowls
• Flexstyle
• Creative Carryouts

Products and services

• J Cup Insulated Foam Cups Insulated foam beverage cups that maintain optimal temperature for hot or cold drinks, available in 4 to 44 ounce sizes. Designed for coffee, cappuccino, tea, hot chocolate, juice, and soft drinks in foodservice operations.
• DART Compostable Fiber Hinged Trays Grease-resistant, PFAS-free fiber hinged containers made with renewable resources, suitable for hot or cold foods, compostable per ASTM requirements.
• DART Compostable Fiber Containers Versatile fiber food containers in various shapes and sizes with grease-resistant, PFAS-free formula for hot and cold food applications.
• Solo Ultra Clear PET Cold Cups Crystal-clear PET plastic cups for cold beverages, recyclable where facilities exist.
• Conex ClearPro Clear Polypropylene Cups Clear polypropylene cups that are recyclable and recognized by APR for recycling.
• Flexstyle DSP Paper Food Containers and Lids Double-sided poly-coated paper food containers with moisture and grease resistance for hot or cold food applications.
• Solo Paper Hot Cups Poly-coated paper hot cups suitable for hot beverages with single-sided coating moisture barrier.
• Solo DSP Paper Cold Cups Double-sided poly paper cold cups for cold beverages and frozen items.
• ThermoGuard Insulated Paper Hot Cups Insulated paper hot cups designed to maintain beverage temperature and protect hands from heat.
• ClearPac SafeSeal Tamper-Resistant, Tamper-Evident Containers PET plastic containers with tamper-evident features providing visible seal to alert consumers to tampering.
• SafeSeal Tamper-Resistant, Tamper-Evident Bowls Tamper-resistant bowls with visible seal feature for food safety in delivery and takeout applications.
• DART Microwaveable Hinged Containers Polypropylene hinged containers that hold hot, cold or frozen foods with one-step close and audible snap feature.
• SOLO Recycled Content Paper Hot Cups (PCF) Paper hot cups made with post-consumer fiber content, meeting ProPlanet Seal standards for recycled content.
• SOLO Recycled Content Plastic Cups Plastic cups made with post-consumer recycled content, recyclable where facilities accept #1 PET plastics.
• Solo Compostable Paper Dinnerware Compostable paper plates and bowls that hold hot or cold meals with cut-resistant design.
• PresentaBowls Bowls and Lids OPS or PET plastic bowls with lids for presenting salads, baked goods, and other food items.
• Conex Complements Polypropylene Portion Containers Polypropylene portion cups and containers for condiments and small food portions.
• Prima Clear Strawless Lids Clear plastic lids designed as alternatives to straws for cold beverage cups.
• Regal Medium Weight Polypropylene Cutlery Kits Medium weight polypropylene cutlery kits for foodservice use.
• Style Setter Medium Weight Polypropylene Cutlery Medium weight cutlery made from polypropylene plastic for various food service applications.
• DART Mineral-Filled Plastic Hinged Containers Mineral-filled polypropylene hinged containers that reduce total plastic usage while maintaining durability for hot and cold foods.
• Dart Consumer Foam Cups Insulated foam beverage cups for consumer/retail use, including patented Easy-to-Hold designs in 6.4 and 8.5 ounce sizes, including the iconic red Solo cup.
• SOLO Compostable Paper Cone Cups Compostable paper cone-shaped cups for water and beverages.
• ClearSeal Clear Plastic Hinged Lid Containers Clear plastic hinged lid containers for food presentation and delivery.
• Custom Print Packaging Service In-house graphics department offering custom print designs on cups, bowls and containers using Pantone Matching System (PMS) for precise color matching, including design refinement, proof approval, and production.

Quantifiable outcome

• Target fill rate of 99%+
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• PulPacflagshipTechnology or Integration · 10 September 2024Strategic partnership where Dart became a PulPac licensee and is installing the first dry molded fiber production line in North America. PulPac's pioneering dry molded fiber manufacturing process uses significantly less water and energy than traditional fiber forming, lowering CO2 footprint by up to 80% and operating up to 10 times faster.
• Seismic SolutionscoreTechnology or Integration · 10 September 2024Seismic Solutions serves as PulPac's North American sales agent and facilitated the Dart-PulPac partnership. The firm is dedicated to facilitating integration of dry molded fiber technology for North American customers.
• Council of the Great LakescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Dart contributed $100,000 in grants to the Council of the Great Lakes' Circular Great Lakes initiative for purchase and installation of LittaTrap devices to capture debris and prevent land-based litter from entering the Great Lakes. Dart is the first manufacturer to sponsor a program of this kind.
• Keep America BeautifulflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Dart is National Sponsor of plogging program - a trend from Scandinavia encouraging people to pick up litter as they walk or run. Dart's sponsorship introduces plogging at community running events across the US and provides free trash grabbers. Provided 2,300 plogging kits to KAB affiliates.
• Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Dart served on APR's board of directors to ensure foodservice packaging has a voice and becomes more sustainable. APR is a key industry association for plastic recycling.
• Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Dart served on BPI's board of directors to advance sustainable solutions for foodservice packaging. BPI promotes composting and biodegradation.
• Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Dart served on FPI's board of directors to ensure foodservice packaging has a voice in industry advocacy and sustainability initiatives.
• National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Dart served on NAPCOR's board of directors to advance PET recycling and sustainability in foodservice packaging.
• Titus (Secondary MRF)coreOthers · 1 January 2019Dart has invested in Titus since 2014. Secondary Material Recovery Facilities help solve challenges primary MRFs face with materials lacking critical mass. Titus has diverted 210,000 lbs aluminum cans, 3.3 million lbs PET bottles, and 35 million lbs paper from landfills.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Berry Global Group: Berry Global is a large diversified packaging manufacturer with foodservice product lines in rigid containers, cups, and films. While broader than Dart across healthcare and consumer packaging, its foodservice offerings overlap meaningfully in plastic and recycled-content products.
• Sonoco Products: Sonoco is a global diversified packaging manufacturer with foodservice paper and plastic packaging exposure alongside its industrial and consumer packaging lines. Overlap with Dart in paper cups, containers, and lids makes it a broad incumbent peer rather than a focused competitor.
• Sealed Air: Sealed Air's food packaging segment produces containers, trays, and films for foodservice and retail protein applications. While better known for Cryovac and protective packaging, its rigid food container offerings intersect with Dart's foodservice portfolio.
• Georgia-Pacific (Koch): Georgia-Pacific manufactures paper-based packaging including foodservice cups, containers, and Dixie-branded consumer cups. As a major paper packaging incumbent with overlapping foodservice and consumer channels, it is a broad competitor to Dart's paper cup and container lines.
• Graphic Packaging: Graphic Packaging produces paperboard-based packaging including foodservice containers and cartons, overlapping with Dart's paperboard and molded fiber categories. Its paperboard-centric model makes it a broad incumbent peer in fiber-based foodservice packaging.

Direct peers

• Sabert Corporation: Sabert produces foodservice packaging including hinged containers, portion cups, and lids for restaurants and caterers, directly competing with Dart's ClearSeal and hinged container product families. Mid-market foodservice focus and custom-print capabilities position Sabert as a closely comparable peer.
• Pactiv Evergreen (now part of Novolex Holdings): Pactiv Evergreen was one of the largest North American foodservice and beverage packaging manufacturers offering cups, containers, cutlery, and cartons directly competitive with Dart's portfolio. Its foodservice scale, customer mix with distributors and large operators, and material breadth made it the closest direct comparable prior to its 2025 acquisition by Novolex.
• Genpak: Genpak manufactures foodservice disposable containers, cups, and lids from plastic and fiber, competing with Dart's Conex, ClearPac, and hinged container lines. Its foodservice-only focus and direct relationships with distributors make it a tightly comparable niche peer.
• Huhtamaki: Huhtamaki's foodservice and consumer goods packaging segments produce paper and plastic cups, containers, and tableware that directly overlap Dart's core SKUs. Comparable global manufacturing footprint and shared foodservice distributor customers make Huhtamaki a primary direct peer.

Emerging players

• Eco-Products (a Novolex company): Eco-Products specializes in compostable and plant-based foodservice packaging, directly competing with Dart's ProPlanet fiber and compostable lines. As a focused sustainability-focused peer now under Novolex, it competes with Dart specifically in the higher-growth compostable/fiber category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DartContainer
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DartContainerCorp
• Facebookfacebook.com/dartcontainer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/companies/dart-container

Compliance14 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Dart Container Corporation