Coronavirus-related hoarding drives up demand at custom paperboard maker
“Not to say that we want to capitalize on any pandemics, but at the end of it, it is a good thing for some businesses and has been detrimental to others,” Keva Sonderen says. “In our world, it’s been nice to be busy again and keep the head count steady.”
As more custom paperboard packaging manufacturers are bought out by large conglomerates, Spokane-based Sonderen Packaging Inc. intends to stick to its vision of remaining “fiercely independent,” says principal and co-owner Keva Sonderen.
“I think the most difficult thing in the last five years, that we’ve seen in our folding carton market, is the purchase of companies like ours that are being bought out by other giant conglomerates,” Sonderen says.
She adds, “It seems like every couple of months somebody else was selling … the independent side is pretty rare these days.”
The company, which manufacturers custom paperboard packaging for grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, and distribution centers, is a member of the Independent Carton Group, an association of independently owned and operated folding carton companies that offers educational and networking programs to members.
Out of 20 members in the association, Sonderen Packaging is the only company located in the Pacific Northwest. The association connects paperboard manufacturers to discuss best practices, host training seminars, and provides a safety net for members, Sonderen says.
In the event of a natural disaster, member companies step up and assist other companies with production, she says.
Paper manufacturers have experienced significant gains since the pandemic began, according to reports from multiple news outlets. The Journal reported in early April that Spokane-based Clearwater Paper Corp., Sonderen Packaging’s biggest supplier, had seen a significant boost in demand.
Sonderen Packaging is no exception, and has seen sales increases during the coronavirus outbreak, Sonderen says. About 76% of the company’s customers are in the grocery industry, which saw an increased demand for products when consumers began purchasing in bulk as the pandemic started.
