What Ralston does

W. Ralston (Canada) Inc., operating as Ralston, is a Canadian manufacturer of plastic and paper packaging products headquartered in Brampton, Ontario. Founded in the 1950s, the company produces a broad portfolio centered on polyethylene can liners (garbage bags), including institutional, retail, contractor, healthcare, and asbestos abatement grades in LLDPE and HDPE formulations, plus compostable bags under the Biosak brand, food service products (Get Reddi wraps, foils, reclosable bags), industrial poly film and CGSB-certified vapour barriers (Proshield), disposable gloves, and paper packaging. The company operates two manufacturing facilities in Brampton, Ontario and Drumheller, Alberta, plus three warehouse facilities, and serves both institutional customers (janitorial/sanitation, food service, healthcare, government, hospitality, industrial/building supply) and consumer markets (building supply, big box, grocery, retail) as well as offering private label manufacturing services.

The underlying technology is rooted in polymer chemistry and film extrusion rather than software. Ralston specializes in LLDPE and HDPE resin processing, post-consumer and post-industrial recycled content integration, and certified compostable bio-resins, supported by an in-house testing laboratory. The product range spans ten or more numbered series differentiated by material composition, recycled content percentages, and third-party certifications (UL Ecologo, BPI ASTM D6400, BNQ, CFIA, FDA, Kosher, CGSB). The company is a subsidiary of Inteplast Group, one of the largest manufacturers of Can Liners in North America.

Revenue is generated through direct sales to institutional and consumer accounts, with a client login portal for account management and a private label OEM program for retailers and brands. The company also operates a Canalyzer mobile app and an online bag size calculator as customer-facing digital tools. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and follows a B2B enterprise sales motion. No public revenue, funding, or ownership details beyond the Inteplast Group parentage are disclosed.

Name

Ralston

Legal name

W. Ralston (Canada) Inc.

Website

https://ralston.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

W. Ralston (Canada) Inc. is a Canadian manufacturer of polyethylene can liners, food service products, compostable bags, industrial film, and disposable gloves, serving institutional and consumer markets through direct sales and private label programs under Inteplast Group ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plastic Bag Manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111), Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112), Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326)

SIC

Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags (2673), Plastics Products, Nec (3089)

akta.pro primary industry

Trash Bags & Bin Liners (CRAJAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Sacks & Bags (Paper/Plastic/Woven) (IMALAGAD), Paper Bags & Sacks (retail, industrial, multiwall) (IMAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Plastic bag manufacturing
• Waste management products
• Compostable bags
• Food service packaging
• Industrial polyethylene film

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Plastic Bags and Film Products: W. Ralston generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of plastic bags, garbage bags, and polyethylene film products to institutional and consumer markets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

W. Ralston (Canada) Inc. manufactures and sells polyethylene garbage bags, food service products (PVC wrap, foil, reclosable bags), compostable bags (Biosak), industrial poly film and CGSB vapour barriers (Proshield), disposable gloves, and paper packaging products. The company operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada and serves both institutional buyers (janitorial, healthcare, food service, government, hospitality) and consumer/retail markets, including private label programs for retailers.

Product overview

W. Ralston (Canada) Inc. is a manufacturer of plastic and paper packaging products, operating as part of the Inteplast Group. The company produces a comprehensive portfolio of garbage bags (institutional, retail, and contractor grades), food service products (wraps, foils, food bags), compostable bags (Biosak brand), industrial films and vapour barriers (Proshield brand), and disposable gloves (vinyl, poly, nitrile, and hybrid options). The product line includes multiple series differentiated by material composition (LLDPE, HDPE), recycled content (post-industrial, post-consumer), certifications (Ecologo, BPI, CFIA, FDA, Kosher), and intended use (institutional, food service, industrial, healthcare). The company also offers private label manufacturing services and operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Institutional Garbage Bags Heavy-duty garbage bags designed for institutional facilities including janitorial, sanitation, healthcare, and industrial applications. Available in LLDPE and HDPE formulations across multiple series (2100-2900 and 6000 series, EcoPerformance).
• Industrial Poly Film & CGSB Vapour Barrier Industrial-grade polyethylene film products including the Proshield 4000 SERIES for general industrial use and the Proshield 5000 SERIES CGSB-certified vapour barriers with UV resistance for construction applications.
• Food Service Products Comprehensive food service product line including Get Reddi PVC food wrap, aluminum foil rolls, pound bags, double zipper reclosable bags, and food grade packaging meeting CFIA, FDA, and Kosher requirements.
• Biosak Compostable Bags & Film 100% compostable bags and film products including the 2100 SERIES Biosak Bulk Compostable Bags (BPI and BNQ 0017-088 certified) and retail compostable bags for residential kitchen and curbside organics collection.
• Ralston Retail Products Consumer-facing garbage bag products available through retail channels including SuperSak contractor bags, retail-ready garbage bags, and general household waste bags.
• Private Label Consumer Goods Custom private label manufacturing capabilities for consumer products, allowing retailers and brands to offer Ralston-manufactured products under their own brand names.
• Paper Products Paper packaging products including Self-Opening Paper Bags, Large Size Paper Sacks, and Twisted Paper Handle Shopper Bags for retail and food service applications.
• Disposable Gloves Range of disposable gloves including vinyl gloves (clear PVC, latex free, FDA/CFIA compliant), poly disposable gloves (PE, HDPE and LDPE options), Inte-Fit hybrid gloves (latex and vinyl free, CFIA and FDA compliant), Reddi-2-Go poly gloves (pre-opened cuff), Synti-Flex synthetic hybrid gloves (latex and powder free, CFIA and FDA approved), and nitrile gloves for medical and general purpose use.

Quantifiable outcome

• HDPE bags are approximately 3 times stronger and more durable than ordinary polyethylene garbage bags of the same thickness
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Inteplast GroupcoreOthersW. Ralston is now part of Inteplast Group, one of the largest manufacturers of Can Liners in North America. This partnership provides W. Ralston with expanded manufacturing capabilities and market reach across North America while maintaining its Canadian market leadership position.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Inteplast Group: Parent company and one of the largest can liner manufacturers in North America. Directly comparable in product category, manufacturing technology, and customer base; Ralston is essentially the Canadian arm of Inteplast's can liner business.
• Heritage Bag Company: US-based manufacturer of institutional and consumer can liners, including high-density, reprocessed, and compostable options. Directly competes with Ralston across similar LLDPE/HDPE and recycled-content product lines.
• Pitt Plastics: Sister subsidiary under Inteplast Group producing can liners and trash bags. The Canalyzer app shared between Pitt Plastics and Ralston demonstrates tight product overlap, with Pitt Plastics serving US markets and Ralston covering Canada.
• Poly-America: Large North American producer of polyethylene films, bags, and can liners. Competes with Ralston in institutional and private-label can liner markets with similar LLDPE/HDPE product platforms.

Broad incumbents

• Reynolds Consumer Products (Hefty): Major consumer trash bag brand (Hefty) and foodservice wrap competitor. Comparable in foodservice products like foil and film where Ralston's Get Reddi line competes.
• Berry Global (now Glatfelter/Amcor merged entity): Large diversified packaging manufacturer with significant can liner and trash bag operations (formerly AEP Industries). Competes with Ralston across institutional and private-label channels, though as part of a much broader packaging portfolio.
• Clorox (Glad Products): Leading consumer trash bag brand in North America. While Ralston is primarily institutional, the two compete in retail/private-label consumer channels and Glad serves as the benchmark consumer competitor.

Emerging players

• Repurpose (by Plastic Pollution Coalition): Focused on compostable and bio-based alternatives in foodservice and packaging. Represents the emerging competitive threat and opportunity in the compostable bag segment where Ralston's Biosak line competes.
• BioBag Americas: Specialist in compostable and biodegradable bags certified to ASTM D6400 and BPI standards. Direct competitor in the compostable bag segment where Ralston's Biosak product line competes for institutional and municipal organics contracts.

Regional players

• Plastixx FFS Technologies: Canadian-based producer of flexible plastic packaging and can liners. Direct regional competitor in the Canadian market with overlapping institutional and retail customer bases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/w.-ralston-canada-inc

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ralston