New US facility to scale production of moulded fibre meat packaging

Cirkla has announced plans to open a manufacturing facility in Gainesville, Georgia, for the production of moulded fibre packaging for meat and other food applications.

Production at the site is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027, with the facility intended to increase the company's manufacturing capacity in the US and support demand from meat processors and grocery retailers seeking alternatives to conventional plastic packaging.

The facility will produce Cirkla's portfolio of moulded fibre products, including modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and overwrap trays. The company's MAP trays combine a fibre-based structure with liner technology designed to provide the barrier properties required for packaged protein products.

According to Cirkla, its fibre trays have been validated for use on packaging equipment used by a large proportion of US protein processors, allowing manufacturers to introduce the format using existing production platforms.

The Gainesville facility will incorporate automated production technology, quality testing laboratories and additional finishing capabilities. Cirkla said the site is expected to employ more than 100 people when operating at full capacity and is intended to provide increased production capacity and shorter lead times for customers in the US.

The investment follows the company's expansion into the US market and the adoption of its fibre packaging by protein processors and grocery retailers. Cirkla said the new manufacturing operation will enable it to serve larger-scale processors domestically as it expands its product range.

Our manufacturing in India runs at scale and has validated this technology in real production environments across some of the most demanding protein categories. As U.S. demand has grown, so has the case for a domestic footprint - this facility brings that same capability closer to our customers, built for the national rollouts ahead.

Vaibhav Goel, CEO, Cirkla.

While meat and poultry will be a focus for the Gainesville operation, the company's moulded fibre packaging technology is also intended for applications including fresh produce, ready meals and customised food packaging.

The manufacturing facility will be located at Gainesville 85 Business Center in Hall County. The project is being supported by the Georgia Department of Economic Development in partnership with the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce and Georgia Quick Start.