All4Labels reaps benefits of South American focus

Over the past two decades, ongoing consolidation among label converters has created a top tier of multi-national groups with dozens of facilities spread around the world. All4Labels, founded in 2016 with the merger of Brazil-based Baumgarten and German companies Rako and X-Label, is one such label and package printing behemoth, with more than 50 production facilities producing more than 80 billion labels a year and an annual revenue of around 1bn USD.

Yet one point of difference comes from All4Labels’ unique geographic spread. Its strongest presence, with some two-thirds of its facilities, is in Europe, and it also runs operations in Mexico, China and Africa. But in South America, following a raft of acquisitions over the past two years, it boasts more factories than any other label printing conglomerate.

This greater focus on South America compared to its rivals is partly explained by the extensive local market knowledge brought by one of the three founding members of the converting group. Prior to the creation of All4Labels, Baumgarten, already a leading label printer in Brazil, had acquired Argentina-based Autopack in 2014, as well as expanding into the wider Latin American region with the purchase of Mexican company Etiquetas Rodak in the same year.

“In the South and Central America region, we have seen tremendous growth opportunities arising, especially in Brazil”

Yet, it is also a strong vote of confidence in the potential of the South American label industry in general and the Brazilian market in particular, as well as the execution of a strategic plan: to focus on consolidating the company’s activities in South America following a period of doing the same in Europe, in order to ensure proximity to its customer base.

Consolidation

Following the formation of All4Labels in 2016, the company swiftly began further expansion in Europe, with the acquisition of leading Italian converter Nuceria Group, just a little more than 18 months later. With external investment from private equity company Triton arriving in 2019, All4Labels ramped up the growth of its European footprint in the following years with deals for more than a dozen companies spread around the continent, including in Denmark, Italy, Romania, Spain and the UK.

‘We were consolidated in the European market, but less so in South America,’ explains Fernando Gabel, former president of South and Central America for All4Labels, and now responsible for Central Europe and M&A. ‘From 2022 onwards, All4Labels drove substantial investments in M&A activities, especially across South America, with our operations in this area experiencing significant growth, counting today more than 15 production sites and entering a new market: Paraguay.

‘In the years that followed, we achieved a turnover increase of over 100 million EUR, significantly expanding our portfolio to include key industries such as healthcare, aviation, automotive, agrochemicals and durables.

‘Our acquisition of a leading player in Chile further solidified our position as a key partner in the wine and spirits segment as well. By 2023, we strengthened our footprint in São Paulo, an important hub for regional and global customers. Furthermore, from 2022 to 2024, we invested more than 10 million EUR in cutting-edge flexography technology and in our healthcare division, expanding the capabilities of our facilities.’

Extensive M&A activity in Brazil, in particular, has led to All4Labels now running 14 production sites around the country and an additional office in São Paulo.

The expansion began in earnest in early 2022 with the acquisition of Flexoprint, a leading provider of labels and shrink sleeves with three manufacturing sites in Brazil and one in neighboring Paraguay. The following year, it added Label Press, a durables-focused converter based in the northern city of Manaus, food label converter Visionflex, Uniflexo, pharmaceutical label specialists Involv, Allbox, FaberPrint and Geon, as well as Maxcor, a specialist in the chemical and oil label market with two plants. Also in 2023, All4Labels acquired leading Chilean wine label converter AMF Etiquetas, further enhancing its regional presence in South America. In 2024, it opened a new facility in João Pessoa in northeastern Brazil.

Two key elements behind this focus on the Brazilian market are All4Labels’ philosophy of proximity to its clients, and strong growth in the local market. ‘We like to be very close to our customers,’ the company’s CEO, Günther Weymans says.

‘The Brazilian label market still has a low per capita pressure-sensitive label consumption, so we are betting on its continued growth,’ says Gabel. ‘Brazil is a fluctuating market, but in general there is a robust growth rate, driven largely by sectors such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Simultaneously, with the rise of e-commerce, businesses in Brazil are increasingly facing demands for innovative packaging solutions that meet regulatory requirements while also appealing to environmentally conscious consumers.

‘While Brazil’s GDP is expected to grow by 2.2 percent in 2025, experts also foresee important growth in the markets supplied by All4Labels, highlighting the 5 percent GDP growth for the agriculture market this year.’

There has been focused investment in digital technology recently at one of the company’s sites in São Paulo, aimed at expanding booklet production capacity, a key application for Brazil’s large agriculture and agrochemical market. All4Labels considers itself the leader in various products within these markets. The additional booklet production capacity will also help it expand further in the pharma market, as well as enhance its offering for the cosmetics sector, long a key focus for All4Labels. Further investment has also taken place to expand shrink sleeve production, a fast-growing market in Brazil.

“We are continually monitoring global market dynamics and remain open to evaluating potential acquisitions that could enhance our global network”

‘We have strategically positioned ourselves for anticipated market growth by significantly enhancing our high-tech booklet production capacity, enabling us to meet the industry’s rising demands with exceptional quality and innovation,’ says Weymans. ‘Additionally, in our sleeves division, we have expanded facilities and invested in advanced technologies, ensuring we continue to serve this expanding market while upholding the highest quality standards. These milestones are integral to All4Labels’ plan to achieve over 10 percent growth in South and Central America by 2025, solidifying our status as the leading converter in the region.’

Strategy

All4Labels’ rapid expansion in South America is an important pillar in the company’s principal aim: to become a leading player in the labeling and packaging sector worldwide. ‘In recent years, All4Labels has made significant strides in the labeling and packaging industry and undertaken substantial investments in expanding our global capabilities and updating our technology,’ says Weymans.

‘In the South and Central America region, we have seen tremendous growth opportunities arising, especially in Brazil. Our expansion in the region marks a significant step in our growth, enhancing the existing global presence and our commitment to proximity and customer‑centricity. As a result of our investments, we’re better equipped to improve service agility and responsiveness, supporting both global and local customers while reinforcing our dedication to exceptional customer service.

‘This success is a testament to our overarching global strategy, which aims to establish All4Labels as a leading player in the labeling and packaging sector worldwide. A key facet of this strategy is our commitment to providing proximity and local support to our customers, ensuring they receive the tailored solutions and service they need to thrive in their respective markets.’

Acquisition strategy

When considering companies for acquisition, All4Labels focuses on the business’ culture over aiming to add specific technological capabilities or strengthening particular market sectors. Even the best-laid plans can go awry, admits Fernando Gabel, so maintaining flexibility is key. ‘You might be looking at a specific sector but not able to find the right company in that moment. If that’s the case, it is better to grow organically than to make the wrong acquisition,’ he says.

‘We are continually monitoring global market dynamics and remain open to evaluating potential acquisitions that could enhance our global network,’ says Günther Weymans, CEO of All4Labels. ‘Our focus is on enriching our capabilities and ensuring that we provide our customers with top-tier service and the best labeling options available. That said, while we are assessing new opportunities, we also place significant emphasis on the consolidation and integration of any new entity. It’s essential for us to cultivate a unified company culture across our diverse and multicultural workforce.’

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