WELCOME TO THE CPA QUARTERLY REPORT NEWSLETTER
The Contract Packaging Association's electronic Quarterly Report Newsletter is designed to keep all members of CPA informed about association growth, activities, events and initiatives.
This newsletter is intended to be both informative and entertaining, while increasing dialog and involvement with the association.
Associate Members are welcome to submit product information or news specific to contract packaging.
Submit electronic files only - PDF format preferred.
Click here for Supplier News.
Please send suitable material to Stan Zelesnik, Executive Director at szelesnik@contractpackaging.org.
2009 ANNUAL MEETING NOT TO BE MISSED
It has come together - program, networking opportunities, social and recreational activities. The CPA Annual Meeting - taking place at the Chateau Elan in Braselton, Georgia, March 20-23, 2009 - will continue at least three a la carte activities for spouses and guests allowing significant others to spend quality time with each other away from business programs.
There will again be three such offerings including: President's Welcome Reception and plated dinner on Friday March 19, Golf Tournament on Sunday afternoon and a Saturday night extravaganza. Plans are final for a "Georgia Hoedown" including: mechanical bull riding, sharp shooting, square dancing to a kicking Bluegrass Band and a number of the most popular interactive festival games and activities.
Add authentic County Fair Barn Door entrance, wood fencing, hay bales, giant sunflowers and props including three backdrops of peach, cotton and peanut fields, checkered table cloths with individual lighting on each. Our group will enter the authentic County Fair "Barn" with approppriate casual hoedown attire for an old fashioned reception and barbeque dinner with all the trimmings.
For the first time a limited number of tabletop exhibits will be made available to Associate Members to actually show their wares: materials, containers, equipment and service capabilities. Appropriate time will be made available to exhibitors for product to be shown to contract packager attendees. Traditional sponsorships will not change. All associate members will be invited to participate at exactly the same time. Sponsorships and exhibits will be taken on a first- come, first-served basis.
The most important first steps are reserving the dates and making hotel reservations.
Updates can be seen at www.contractpackaging.org/annualmeeting.
Come to learn, conduct more successful business, network and have a grand time at a phenomenal venue. Best of all is intentional scheduling to keep you away from critical work obligations for as short a period as possible. In on Friday, back home at noon on Monday.
STATE OF THE CONTRACT PACKAGING INDUSTRY REPORT
First ever "State of the Contract Packaging Industry Report" available October 1, 2008. So fresh, the ink on the report has just dried.
Never available information indicates what the business/service of contract packaging is and will be.The color print report is 76 pages in length and includes a CD Database of 1,300 plus member and non-member contract packagers from which respondents came.
Click here for more details and ordering information.
PACK EXPO DELIVERS SUCCESS FOR CPA
Contract Packaging Association exhibited at Pack Expo earlier this month in Chicago and were quite busy the entire show.
Both CPA staff and member companies witnessed the dynamics at work. We were asked everything from, "Who are you people and what do you do"? to more sophisticated discussion relating to the use of contract packaging services as well as benefits of both membership and associate membership. It was a productive as well as an enjoyable activity.
An investment was made in two seven foot banners highlighting key findings in the report. Included was information such as:
- There are between 1,200 and 1,600 contract packagers in the U.S.
- The estimated market value of these services is currently 12 to 16 billion.
- Average industry growth is projected at 20% a year for the next five years.
- 78% of all revenues are derived from repeat business.
- The industry feels it is one year into what is believed to be a five year acquisition cycle.
- Although acquisition will occur, the market will continue to remain fragmented due to the large number of contract packagers and the breadth of industries requiring niche services.
- Secondary packaging, assembly and kitting operations will continue to grow amongst contract packagers as consumer packaged goods (CPG) producers become less willing to take on labor intensive functions.
In addition, CPA counter cards with web site address were delivered to every member exhibiting. Also included were report promotion cards, price sheets and a letter explaining why these materials were being delivered.
It was heartening for any member walking the show to see as many green and white counter cards as were prominently displayed.
All interested in some aspect of CPA have been sent personalized e-mail letters reinforcing the visit and urging specific action. All possible will be followed with a phone call soonest possible.
Pack Expo itself was down minimally in visitor attendance, total attendance, international attendance, and number of exhibiting companies.
2008-2009 BOARD MEMBERS RE-ELECTION RESULTS
All four candidates: John Mazelin, Sean McKeon, Vic Stalam and Gerry Donley were overwhelmingly approved by CPA's membership.
40 members responded; 160 actual votes cast. 152 were "For" the four directors listed - 8 total "Against." Congratulations to all!
PLEASE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS OF CPA
The following companies have joined the Contract Packaging Association since the last newsletter in August. In alphabetical order, they include:
~ Accel, Inc.
~ Century Foods International
~ Finch Warehouse Logistics
~ FX Packaging & Logistics
~ Liquid Manufacturing
~ Mariani Packing Company
~ Northwest Paper Box Manufacturers
~ One Source Industries
~ Packaging Distributors of America
~ Palace Street Foods
~ Raven Manufacturing
~ The Scoular Company
~ Smurfit-Stone
These companies have allowed your association to remain at its "high-water" mark of 166 members in a difficult financial period. Congratulations to all who encourage membership to those not yet aware. There is general belief that this difficult period will present new opportunities to CPA members not otherwise possible.
It is the strong belief of the board that more frequent engagement of particularly new members will hold attrition to a minimum. Specific but different contacts at three, six and nine months after joining will reinforce the feeling of belonging.
SUMMIT PUBLISHING ROLLS OUT AMBITIOUS COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM FOR 2009
There will be considerable information made available to contract packagers in almost every imaginable form in the New Year.
The 2009 Contract Packaging Media Guide is now available in both print and electronic formats. Members of CPA will have enhanced listings and other special treatments as additional member benefits. The three print editions include the Resource Guide, a monthly e-newsletter and a repositioned Contract Packaging Forum 09. CPF will be shortened to a one-day event on September 1, 2009 with a welcome reception the evening before. New options are available for sponsors. See www.contractpackagingmag.com for additional details.
Additionally, Summit Publishing announces three additional workshops/forums focusing on automation (Packaging Automation Forum, design (Shelf Impact!'s Package Design Workshop), line performance (Packaging Line Performance Workshop) and the pharmaceutical market (Pharmaceutical Packaging Forum).
COMMITTEES ACCOMPLISHING OBJECTIVES
There are currently six (6) functioning committees within CPA. They include: Management; Marketing; Membership; and Meeting. There is also a committee devoted to the needs of Associate Members and a Survey Committee responsible for completing "The State of the Contract Packaging Industry Report."
CPA continues to work on the formation of the Education Committee. Sincere thanks to committee chairs and their committee members and staff for significantly accelerating the goals and objectives of their association.
