(St. Louis, MO) March 2, 2021

Anchor Packaging, LLC, a leading US manufacturer of foodservice packaging, together with Mayor Josh Agee, community leaders, and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, celebrated the groundbreaking of a 90,000 square-foot, $21.5 million expansion to its Paragould, AR manufacturing facility, which will bring 45 new jobs over the next 30 months.

Since opening its first Arkansas production plant in 1985, Anchor has continued its rapid growth into multiple locations with several new product line expansions and hiring more local residents. Today, Anchor employs over 1,000 people and operates two million square feet of production and distribution across six facilities in Paragould, Marmaduke, and Jonesboro.

“Anchor’s packaging is just one more way Arkansas touches lives all over the United States,” Governor Asa Hutchinson said. “Most Americans probably don’t know they take their takeout restaurant food home in a container made in the Natural State. Since 1987, when Anchor opened its first facility in Marmaduke, the company has been a world-class member of our business community. Anchor’s decision to expand in Paragould gives us another opportunity to spread the news that Arkansas’s workforce is first-rate, our business climate is second to none, and Arkansas businesses make life better for millions of people.”

“I applaud Anchor Packaging for their commitment to their employees and the community,” said Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston. “They have risen to the top of their industry through innovation and quality while creating a positive environment that continues to draw a dedicated workforce.”

“Anchor Packaging has been an excellent partner of the Paragould industrial community since expanding to Paragould in the 1990’s. We are thrilled that Anchor has decided to expand here once again. Our workforce has time and time again met the needs of expanding and new industries. The City of Paragould has long been a proponent of partnering with our local industries for job retention and expansion. The Anchor Packaging expansion is a proud product of those efforts,” said Paragould Mayor Josh Agee.

“Anchor Packaging has a rich 58-year history protecting food, including moving its manufacturing operations to Northeast Arkansas communities over 35 years ago.  I am proud to say we have never had a lay-off.  Re-investing in the region comes naturally as we have outstanding employees, many second and third generation, coupled with an evergrowing business focused on sustainable food packaging solutions,” said Jeff Wolff, CEO and President, Anchor Packaging.  “Our safety accomplishments and consecutive record production levels over the past several years are evidence of the pride and ownership every Anchor team member takes in producing high-quality packaging that best meets the evolving needs of our customers.”

The Paragould expansion will house several new thermoforming lines with installation beginning in late 2021.  This expansion is in addition to the new thermoforming lines going operational in Q2, 2021 in Paragould and Jonesboro allowing Anchor Packaging to fill the rapidly growing demand for foodservice containers used by restaurants, supermarkets, and convenience stores to serve the consumer’s expanding need for takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery of prepared meals. Anchor Packaging products include the award-winning Crisp Food Technologies® containers, Safe Pinch® Tamper-Evident containers, and a unique stock product line of over 450 rigid containers and foodservice cling films.

(St. Louis, MO) January 16, 2017.  Anchor Packaging, Inc., North America’s 3^rd largest manufacturer of rigid non-foam food packaging, is pleased to announce the addition of four additional Process Engineers to its manufacturing operations.  Jerome Stegall, an ASU graduate with over ten years’ experience, as well as Nick Gross, Paul McGhee, and Aaron Troll, all graduates of Missouri University of Science and Technology, began their careers with Anchor during the last four months.  Responsible for process optimization, continuous improvement, and operator training and development, they join a team focused on achieving the industry’s highest levels of quality, service and performance.

“Our company’s vision for manufacturing excellence, operational leadership, and delighting our customers, begins and ends with our people” stated Jeffrey Wolff, President of Anchor Packaging. “We look for talented individuals who not only excelled in their education, but who are inspired to continuously learn, while driving the enterprise toward future growth.”

Anchor Packaging’s emphasis on their people finds them actively recruiting from various institutions, continuously searching for talented graduates who bring fresh ideas, but also harbor a desire to learn from talented industry veterans.  The company’s culture is built on cornerstones of people, safety, quality, and value-driven, innovative products that drive increased sales and profits for Anchor and its partners.  .

Anchor Packaging’s products include affordable, upscale, to-go packaging to merchandise prepared ready-to-heat meals in supermarkets, and takeout meals offered by restaurants and other foodservice operations.   Anchor’s unique product line includes stock and custom rigid packaging, as well as a broad line of cling film wraps.

(St. Louis, MO) August 3, 2015.  Anchor Packaging, Inc. announces the latest addition to their line of Culinary Squares^® bases and lids, offering increased value to the operator looking for ways to improve their image while controlling costs.

With the same inside food space as a 9″ x 9″ foam clamshell, the Culinary Squares^® product line from Anchor offers a truly affordable upgrade from foam. The durable, cut-resistant material of the bases and the food visibility provided by the clear lids, provide the ultimate combination of an upscale presentation at a value price. At a time when food prices are on the rise, this line was designed to maximize performance and minimize packaging cost.

A new, deeper dome joins the existing single and 3-compartment, vented lids made with crystal clear polypropylene (PP) with integral Clear Guard^® anti-fog technology.  The matching 8.5″ square, black PP bases, available in single and 3-compartment designs, accept all three lids designed with secure, leak-resistant closures to preserve the food presentation and avoid messy spills. These packages withstand temperatures to 230°F in warming units, under heat lamps, or in the microwave.  No need to re-plate chilled, prepared foods, when reheated in the microwave.

Containers are made with a natural mineral additive, reducing the use of petroleum based resin by 40%.  Bases and lids are dishwasher safe providing consumer-convenient reusability and are recyclable curbside.

Anchor Packaging’s products include affordable and upscale takeout packaging. Used for merchandising prepared, ready-to-heat meals in supermarkets, and for takeout meals offered by restaurants, Anchor’s products can be found in most foodservice operations.   Anchor’s unique product line includes stock and custom rigid packaging, as well as a broad line of cling film wraps.

Redesign and Latest Technology Produced at a Lower Price

(St. Louis, MO) August 10, 2009 The overwhelming theme in the foodservice industry over the past few months has been value, cost savings, and sustainability. Anchor delivers all of these with its newly re-designed MicroRaves^® M700 Series.  10 new SKUs, include 4 platters, and 4 interchangeable matching lids, and 2 combo packs, in one single footprint to minimize sku’s. Polypropylene vented anti-fogging lids are available for hot displays and warming units, and along with the polypropylene platters, will withstand temperatures up to 230ºF. A cold lid, made of crystal clear PET, is ideal for cold case merchandising. The platters are available in a 32 oz, a 48 oz deep version, as well as 2-compartment and 3-compartment meal options. A hot lid 32 oz. combo pack and a cold lid 32 oz combo pack are the final items that fill out this full line.

Innovative new platter and lid designs were engineered to provide for positive stacking in the hot and cold display, or during consumer transit home.  The new items utilize advanced engineering techniques, resulting in a reduction in petroleum-based resin, while providing a structurally stronger container. Key product characteristics include: leak-resistance, durability, strength, capacity, and stackability.  All of the polypropylene (#5PP) hot platters and lids are microwave-safe, dishwasher-safe, and consumer reusable and recyclable. The recyclable cold lid is made of #1 PETE, the most widely recycled plastic material nationwide.

The EPA recommendations for waste management include: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. These new M700s have been designed to meet those objectives.

Anchor Packaging’s container product line includes upscale take-out packaging used for merchandising prepared ready-to-heat meals in supermarkets, take-out containers in restaurants and other foodservice operations. The Roaster^® Series, Incredi-Bowls^®, Culinary Classics^®, Culinary Basics^®, MicroRaves^®, MicroRounds^®, Gourmet Classics^®, Microlite^®, BonFaire^®, DeliView^®, and AnchorFoil^® pans are among Anchor’s unique product lines. Anchor also provides custom package design and manufacture for many large food companies in the U.S. and Canada.