Sonoco's Matrix Packaging Unit to Open New Plant in St. Louis to Produce Rigid Plastic Containers

Hartsville, South Carolina, USA, 13 November 2007 -- Sonoco’s (NYSE: SON) Matrix Packaging unit will open a new rigid plastic container plant in St. Louis, Missouri, to meet growing demand for packaging to serve the home and personal care market, it was announced today by Charles Sullivan, Sonoco’s executive vice president.

The new plant is expected to begin operation in the first quarter of 2008 and produce extruded blow-molded bottles for household chemical and personal care markets. Matrix recently signed a new multi-year contract with a new large consumer products customer to produce the containers.

“Since acquiring Matrix Packaging at the end of May, we have seen the business continue to grow sales with new and existing customers,” said Sullivan. “Developing a new plant in St. Louis is an opportunity for Matrix to further expand its production capability and to support the growing needs of our customers.”

According to Pushminder Judge, president of Matrix Packaging, the new 150,000-square-foot plant will be highly automated and initially operate six extrusion blow-molding machines. The plant is expected to initially employ approximately 75 workers and should expand as production grows.

“In addition to the new production capability that will come on line in early 2008 at our St. Louis plant, we are continuing to see good growth at our existing facilities and are adding three new blow-molding machines in plants in Canada; Los Angeles; and Jefferson City, Missouri; later this year,” Judge said.

About Sonoco

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a USD 3.7 billion global manufacturer of industrial and consumer products and provider of packaging services, with more than 300 operations in 35 countries, serving customers in some 85 nations. For more information on the company, visit http://www.sonoco.com/.