Aussie co-packer LJM partners with NZ brand specialist Hoop

Australian co-packer LJM has formed a joint venture with New Zealand brand activation specialist Hoop to expand the company’s international reach. The partnership will position the companies as retail co-packing specialists for New Zealand suppliers.

LJM employs more than 500 people across seven sites in New South Wales and Victoria, moving approximately 60 million packaged products across 1000 SKU annually for national and global FMCG, food, beverages, spirits and pharmaceutical companies.

“LJM’s extensive experience in co-packing, combined with Hoop’s client facing marketing capability, will be a formidable combination in New Zealand,” said Lance Miles, Director and Founder of LJM. “There are currently no dedicated co-packing companies in this country. It is an untapped market waiting to be serviced. The joint venture will help leapfrog the businesses to become the leading co-packing specialists in New Zealand.

“The commercial decision to partner with Hoop was influenced by their reputation in New Zealand, a shared FMCG target market and complimentary service offering. LJM’s size and scale will help drive the co-packing market in New Zealand.”

“Hoop currently has a national field team of over 350 brand activators and a promotional logistics division. The LJM/Hoop partnership will be able to pre-build stock into displays and the national activator team will support the install and compliance process on the shop floor,” said Chris Hood, Director of Hood.

The State of Industry Report from the Contract Packaging Association reveals that the secondary co-packing industry is driven by international FMCG brands and is growing about 10% annually, with Australian and New Zealand markets expected to follow suit.