RockTenn

What RockTenn does

RockTenn, originally Rock-Tenn Company and founded in 1973, was an American paper and packaging manufacturer headquartered in Norcross, Georgia. In July 2015, Rock-Tenn merged with MeadWestvaco Corporation to form WestRock Company, and as a standalone entity RockTenn ceased to exist. WestRock subsequently completed its merger with Smurfit Kappa Group in July 2024 to form Smurfit Westrock, which is the current surviving entity referenced throughout the recent source data. Rock-Tenn's legacy footprint and the WestRock/Smurfit Westrock operations together encompass paper-based packaging manufacturing, corrugated box production, merchandising displays, and packaging automation solutions, with manufacturing and distribution in North America, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Korea, and Mexico.

The product portfolio is organized into four core product lines (Packaging Solutions, Merchandising Display Solutions, Packaging Automation Solutions, and Paper Solutions) plus a suite of service capabilities including packaging design, printing, innovation, consultative services, automation integration, digital supply chain, recycling, and distribution. The company serves seven primary verticals: Beverage, Foodservice, Fresh Food, Healthcare, Home/Beauty/Personal Care, Processed Food, and Retail & E-commerce. Revenue mechanics center on direct enterprise sales of corrugated and paper packaging, complemented by professional services for design, automation deployment, and supply chain optimization. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, consistent with B2B industrial packaging contracting.

The go-to-market model is enterprise field sales through a global direct sales force, supported by industry event presence (e.g., BrauBeviale), content marketing on sustainability themes, and PR-driven award recognition (notably the 2024 PPC Package of the Year and Innovation of the Year). Named anchor customers include Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages (paper multipack rings replacing 200,000 pounds of plastic annually) and Costco (multi-region plastic reduction). Two historic acquisitions are documented: Fold Pak in 2007 and the 2015 merger that created WestRock. There is no disclosed AI capability, no public revenue figure, and no app or developer-facing API.

Name

RockTenn

Legal name

WestRock Company

Website

https://rocktenn.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

RockTenn, now operating as Smurfit Westrock following the 2015 MeadWestvaco merger and 2024 Smurfit Kappa combination, is a global paper and packaging manufacturer serving beverage, foodservice, healthcare, retail, and e-commerce enterprise customers with corrugated, paper, and automation solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paper and Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing (322212)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650)

akta.pro primary industry

Corrugated Packaging (Boxes, Sheets, Pads) (IMALACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paper-Based Foodservice Packaging (Cups, Lids, Trays, Takeout Containers) (IMALACAJ), Paper & Paperboard Packaging Converting & Finishing (Die-Cutting, Gluing, Windowing, Coating) (IMALACAL), Folding Carton & Paperboard Packaging Printing (IMALAKAH)

Keywords

• Paper packaging manufacturing
• Corrugated packaging solutions
• Merchandising display solutions
• Packaging automation systems
• Sustainable packaging materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Norcross

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Packaging Solutions Sales: Sale of corrugated packaging, paper solutions, and protective packaging to industrial, food, beverage, healthcare, and retail customers
2. Packaging Design Services: Consultative packaging design services for customer-specific solutions
3. Merchandising Display Solutions: Custom merchandising display solutions for retail and point-of-sale applications
4. Automation Services: Packaging automation implementation and optimization services

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RockTenn (now Smurfit Westrock) manufactures and sells paper-based and corrugated packaging products, merchandising displays, and packaging automation systems for enterprise customers in beverage, foodservice, fresh food, healthcare, personal care, processed food, and retail/e-commerce markets. The company complements these physical products with design, printing, recycling, automation integration, and digital supply chain services, with a particular emphasis on paper-based alternatives to plastic packaging.

Product overview

RockTenn operates as a global packaging manufacturer (now branded as Smurfit Westrock) offering a comprehensive portfolio of packaging solutions. The portfolio includes core product lines: Packaging Solutions for various industries, Merchandising Display Solutions for retail, Packaging Automation Solutions for operational efficiency, and Paper Solutions for sustainable paper-based packaging. The company serves diverse markets including Beverage, Foodservice, Fresh Food, Healthcare, Home Beauty & Personal Care, Processed Food, and Retail & E-commerce. Supporting the core products are service offerings including Packaging Design Services, Printing Solutions, Innovation Capabilities, Consultative Services, Packaging Automation Services, Digital Supply Chain Solutions, Recycling Services, and Packaging Distribution Services. The company focuses on sustainable packaging innovation, including paper-based alternatives to plastic like the PETCollar range and paper packaging solutions for multi-pack beverages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Packaging Solutions Core packaging solutions providing packaging design, manufacturing, and supply for various industries including beverage, food, healthcare, and retail sectors.
• Merchandising Display Solutions Point-of-sale display solutions for retail environments to enhance product visibility and customer engagement.
• Packaging Automation Solutions Automated packaging systems and solutions to improve efficiency and throughput in packaging operations.
• Paper Solutions Paper-based packaging solutions including paperboard, corrugated materials, and sustainable paper products.
• Packaging Design Services Consultative packaging design services to develop customized packaging solutions for specific customer requirements.
• Printing Solutions Advanced printing capabilities for packaging customization and branding applications.
• Consultative Services Expert consulting services for packaging strategy, sustainability planning, and supply chain optimization.
• Packaging Automation Services Automation integration and support services for packaging operations.
• Digital Supply Chain Solutions Digital tools and solutions for supply chain visibility, tracking, and optimization.
• Recycling Services Fiber recycling services and sustainable materials management solutions.
• Packaging Distribution Services Logistics and distribution services for packaging products.
• Innovation Capabilities Research and development services focused on sustainable packaging innovation and new product development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Liberty Coca-Cola replaced 200,000 pounds of plastic annually with WestRock paper packaging

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Liberty Coca-Cola BeveragescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiberty Coca-Cola Beverages partnered with WestRock to replace plastic multipack rings with paper packaging, enabling replacement of 200,000 pounds of plastic annually with sustainable paper packaging solution.
• CostcocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestRock is helping Costco reduce plastic and achieve sustainability goals across global operations through sustainable packaging solutions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Paper: International Paper is the world's largest pulp and paper company and a leading producer of corrugated packaging, containerboard, and paperboard - directly competing with WestRock/Smurfit Westrock in North American and global markets. The two companies overlap heavily in industrial corrugated boxes, foodservice packaging, and sustainable paper-based alternatives.
• Mondi Group: Mondi is a European-headquartered global packaging and paper group with leading positions in containerboard, corrugated packaging, and flexible packaging. Mondi now owns DS Smith and competes directly with Smurfit Westrock across European and emerging-market corrugated and kraft paper markets, with overlapping sustainability-led paper-based product lines.
• Pactiv Evergreen: Pactiv Evergreen is a leading manufacturer of foodservice and food merchandising packaging, including paper-based and renewable molded fiber products. The company directly competes with WestRock's foodservice packaging and fresh food segments, particularly in sustainable alternatives to plastic cups, cartons, and clamshells.
• Graphic Packaging Holding Company: Graphic Packaging is a leading global producer of folding cartons, paperboard packaging, and food and beverage packaging solutions, with strong overlap in consumer goods folding cartons and paperboard converting. The company competes directly with WestRock in folding cartons, particularly for CPG customers across food, beverage, and household goods.
• Smurfit Kappa Group: Smurfit Kappa was one of the world's largest integrated paper-based packaging manufacturers before its 2024 merger with WestRock. Historically a direct peer across European and Latin American corrugated and paper-based packaging, the two companies together now form Smurfit Westrock, the combined global leader in sustainable packaging.
• Packaging Corporation of America: Packaging Corporation of America is a major U.S. manufacturer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products, with a similar focus on sustainability and recycled fiber. PCA competes head-to-head with WestRock in North American corrugated boxes and uncoated freesheet, sharing similar customer profiles in industrial, retail, and foodservice segments.
• Cascades Inc. Cascades is a North American manufacturer of recycled-based packaging products, including containerboard, corrugated packaging, and tissue products. The company competes directly with WestRock in sustainable, recycled-fiber corrugated packaging and foodservice paper products, particularly in Canada and the U.S. Northeast.

Broad incumbents

• Sonoco Products Company: Sonoco is a diversified global packaging manufacturer serving consumer, industrial, healthcare, and protective packaging end-markets. While Sonoco has overlap with WestRock in paperboard, rigid paper containers, and protective packaging, it has a wider portfolio including metal and plastic packaging and does not specialize exclusively in paper-based corrugated and paperboard.
• Sealed Air Corporation: Sealed Air is a global packaging company best known for Cryovac food packaging and Bubble Wrap protective packaging. The company competes with WestRock in protective and food packaging segments but its core focus on plastic-based protective and food packaging differentiates it from WestRock's paper-centric portfolio.
• Stora Enso: Stora Enso is a European-based global provider of renewable packaging, biomaterials, and paperboard, with leading positions in consumer board and packaging solutions. While overlapping with WestRock in paperboard, folding cartons, and sustainable packaging, Stora Enso's portfolio also includes biomaterials, market pulp, and wood products beyond packaging.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rock-tenn-company

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&A2 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about RockTenn