iMSGroup and Colorite join forces

Packaging businesses iMSGroup and Colorite are merging, in order to create a one-stop supply chain in brand and packaging solutions across the Asia Pacific.

The companies will combine their offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Shanghai, Auckland and Christchurch, with approximately 150 staff.

Mark Mahoney, managing director of iMSGroup, says the merge was inspired by brand owners looking for complete solutions. He tells Australian Printer, “We have found there are opportunities for businesses like ours who concentrate on brands and front-end creative right through the supply chain to packaging on-shelf. We felt that with the Colorite organisation, with their very strong back-end piece, our two groups give us the ability to have a truly integrated approach.”

“We are dealing with global FMCG businesses, they are constantly looking to reduce price, improve process and reduce the number of suppliers – so employing organisations that have a complete supply chain in place is important for them.”

Mahoney also says a subdued outlook for the industry helped drive the merge. He says, “Particularly in our sector revenues have been on the decline since about 2002. Our research is telling us that decline is going to continue until about 2018, to the tune of about 5.4 per cent.”

iMSGroup has been an independent operator for 16 years, working mostly with the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market, offering creative design, artwork engineering and printing solutions. Colorite, primarily based in New Zealand, offers pre-press, proofing and design services to the print and packaging industries. Mahoney says the merge has been a positive step forward for both companies.

He says, “We’ve got the ability to be in front of marketing teams where we can take the supply chain from step one – meeting strategic and creative briefs, and we also have the ability to supply packaging, digital campaigns, and above the line campaigns. So it really does give us a true integrated supply chain; a selling proposition that not many in the Australian and New Zealand markets can compete against.

“We’ve already been able to demonstrate the abilities of the two businesses together with our current customer base and we’re very excited about the opportunity to talk to our new client base. Our relationship has got off on the right foot.”

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