Pop Displays to merge with Easypack following Rapide purchase

Commercial printer Rapide has been acquired by point-of-purchase packaging company Pop Displays for an undisclosed sum.

A new 1,000m2 warehouse is under construction at Mildenhall, Suffolk, in addition to a creative suite to house Rapide's pre-press equipment.

Norfolk-based Rapide had 13 staff and an £800,000 turnover. It was acquired in April and is expecting to move to the new site in July.

Pop Displays is a sister firm of Easypack, and the two companies will merge after the revamp of the facilities. The acquisition means Rapide will become a subsidiary of the merged business.

Easypack group chief executive Chris Hall said he had no plans for further acquisition over the rest of the year. "We will consolidate for 12 months," he said.

The Easypack group makes corrugated cases, while Pop Displays creates point-of-sale packaging and pre-filled display units and its clients include Tesco, Asda and Burton's Foods.

They were previously running separately in shared facilities at Mildenhall.

Easypack, Pop Displays and Rapide have around 50 employees and their combined group turnover is £6.5m.