Mayr-Melnhof expands packaging production in Romania. The expansion is taking place in a continuing difficult market environment. 26 August 2026 Picture: Mayr-Melnhof Mayr-Melnhof (MM) is advancing the expansion of its packaging production in Romania. According to the company, the investment in the local plant is proceeding on schedule. Commercial production is set to start in October 2026. The project is part of MM's growth investments and belongs to the Food & Premium Packaging division. Looking ahead to the second half of the year, the Group confirms that the expansion investments in Romania and the USA are proceeding according to plan. They are scheduled to contribute to the Group's earnings from 2027 onwards. MM does not provide any further details regarding the investment volume or the additional production capacities in Romania in the half-yearly figures not. Weak demand for folding cartons. The expansion is taking place in a still difficult market environment. MM describes demand for folding cartons in the first half of 2026 as sluggish. At the same time, the intensity of competition in most end markets remained unchanged and high. Towards the end of the second quarter, the order situation improved slightly in selected markets. In the Food & Premium Packaging division, revenue fell on a comparable basis, excluding the divested Tann group, by 5.6 percent to 684 million euros. The volume produced decreased by 7.1 percent to 1.019 billion square metres. By contrast, adjusted EBITDA rose slightly by 0.9 percent to 97.9 million euros. The corresponding margin increased from 13.4 to 14.3 percent. MM attributes this development, amongst other things, to process improvements, fixed cost reductions and lower cartonboard costs. According to the company, the division's innovation activities continue to focus on sustainable packaging solutions. The main focus here is, in particular, on replacing plastic packaging with fibre-based alternatives.

Mayr-Melnhof to acquire RDM's Arnsberg board mill. 17 August 2026 MM Board & Paper has agreed to acquire RDM Group's recycled cartonboard mill in Arnsberg, Germany, in a deal that will further expand MM's production footprint in the country... You can only use this article with a valid subscription and registration. Registered subscribers can access all articles after entering their user name and password. Related markets Article topics

Apollo Group to acquire Norway's Fly Chicken chain to roll out KFC brand. The company also plans to invest approximately €20m ($22m) in the Norwegian market over the coming five years. KFC franchisor Apollo Group, in collaboration with MM Group, is in the process of acquiring Norwegian fast casual restaurant chain Fly Chicken to launch the KFC brand in the country. Apollo Group plans to convert most of Fly Chicken's 19 locations across Norway into KFC restaurants. In addition to the conversions, the franchisor intends to open further KFC sites in the country over the next five years. With this move, Norway will become the fifth market where the Apollo Group runs KFC restaurants under a franchise agreement. Alongside the acquisition, Apollo Group plans to invest €20m ($22m) in the Norwegian market over the coming five years. Following completion of the deal, Fly Chicken's co-founder and CEO Ronny Gjøse will remain in his role. He will lead the transition, oversee the rebranding and drive further development of the Norwegian operations. Gjøse said: "Verdict Food Service built Fly Chicken into Norway's leading fried chicken concept, scaling to 19 restaurants with a small, efficient team and strong systems, without compromising on quality. "This transaction brings together complementary strengths, an established Norwegian platform and local know-how on our side, and one of the world's strongest restaurant brands with Apollo Group's international experience and resources behind it." The transaction supports Apollo Group's long-term growth targets and strategic expansion plans. Apollo Group CEO Toomas Tiivel said: "This acquisition marks another important milestone in Apollo Group's international expansion and further strengthens its position in Northern Europe. "We see considerable opportunities to further develop the KFC brand by combining Fly Chicken's local expertise with Apollo Group's extensive experience in operating and expanding international restaurant concepts across multiple markets." Completion of the acquisition remains subject to standard approvals and procedures. Give your business an edge with its leading industry insights.