Company Profile: Sonoco Products Company
REMEMBER to ANSWER these questions (This is a very important part of the interview – to know why you are interested):
List 2-3 reason why you are interested in this industry?
List 2-3 reasons why you are interested in Sonoco Corporation?
List 2-3 reasons why you are interested in this position?
1. Company general info.
Sonoco has been a package deal for more than 100 years for Sonoco Products, one of the world's largest makers of industrial and consumer packaging products. The company's Engineered Carriers and Paper segment serves the textile, paper, and film industries and makes cores, cones, and tubes. Its Consumer Packaging segment makes composite cans, flexible packaging, and plastic grocery sacks. Sonoco Products' Packaging Services unit offers artwork and brand management services.
With more than 320 locations in 35 countries, Sonoco serves customers in 85 nations. Strategically located throughout: North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia
Since the Company's founding in 1899 its corporate headquarters have been in Hartsville, SC.
Chairman, President, and CEO Harris E. DeLoach Jr.
SVP, Human Resources Cynthia A. (Cindy) Hartley
Senior vice president RonaldE. Holley
Senior vice president and Charles J. Hupfer
Chief financial officer and corporate secretary
Company Type Public (NYSE:SON)
2004 Sales (mil.) $3,155.4
1-Year Sales Growth 14.4%
2004 Net Income (mil.) $151.2
1-Year Net Income Growth 8.8%
2004 Employees 17,100
1-Year Employee Growth 12.5%
2. Selected Products:
Sonoco offers a wide variety of packaging products and services for the world's most recognized companies.
Engineered Carriers and Paper: Cores, Paper, Paperboard tubes, Roll packaging
Consumer Packaging: Ends and closures, Printed flexible packaging, Rigid packaging
Packaging Services: Artwork management, Folding cartons, Pack centers
Check the link: http://www.sonoco.com/topnav/products+and+services/product+catalog/index.htm for complete product list
3. In the news
BRUSSELS, Belgium, Feb. 3 -- Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l. will increase paper-based core and tube prices effective March 1, 2006, across the U.K. and Central and Western Europe by 12 to 16 percent and across the Nordic Region by 5 to 8 percent, it was announced today by James Harrell, chief executive officer, Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l.
HARTSVILLE, S.C., Feb. 1 -- Sonoco's board of directors today declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.23 per share. This 323rd consecutive quarterly dividend will be payable March 10, 2006, to shareholders of record as of February 17, 2006.
HARTSVILLE, S.C., Jan. 20 -- Sonoco, the market and technology leader in the design and manufacture of concrete column forms, today announced the launch throughout North America of its new water-resistant Sonotube(R) concrete form with RainGuard(TM) technology.
Sonoco's new Sonotube(R) brand forms incorporate a proprietary, high- strength, water-resistant paper that allows contractors to set the concrete forms in wet weather and pour concrete the next day. This gives contractors added scheduling flexibility to complete construction projects on time.
The new product was developed after Sonoco conducted extensive market research to understand the unmet needs and issues facing contractors who use fiber concrete forms. Contractors most frequently mentioned rain or inclement weather as the top issue that inhibits their ability to complete a job within the committed timeframe. The forms are used for a wide variety of applications, including light poles, outdoor signposts and columns for residential and commercial buildings.
4. Top Competitors
· Bemis
· Caraustar
· Smurfit-Stone Container
Sources: Company website, Businessweek.com, Hoovers.com