The MATLET Group to Relocate Work as Part of Central Florida Press Plant Closure; 145 Impacted

Gary Stiffler, CEO at The Matlet Group

The MATLET Group, a manufacturer of consumer goods packaging, menu print solutions and fulfillment services, has announced plans to move the work of its casual dining print manufacturing division currently completed at Central Florida Press (CFP) in Orlando, Fla., to MATLET’s 300,000-sq.-ft. Packaging Graphics headquarters facility in Pawtucket, R.I.

About 25 customer support personnel will remain in Orlando, but the 150,000-sq.-ft. CFP manufacturing operations will close by the end of the summer, impacting about 145 workers. There will be relocation opportunities for some Orlando employees to Rhode Island, but the number of available positions has not yet been determined.

“This more robust facility will allow us to provide a higher level of customer support, expanded menu innovations and double our capabilities to meet growing demand among our restaurant clientele,” said MATLET Group CEO Gary Stiffler. “We look forward to growing our market-leader presence with this enhanced facility in Pawtucket.”

The larger Pawtucket location will reportedly increase menu printing capacity by 50%. Packaging Graphics currently employs roughly 175 people in the Pawtucket facility. The addition of the CFP print manufacturing is also expected to increase its workforce by 20%.

The decision to move the casual dining print manufacturing — and also exit from general commercial work that had been done at CFP — aligns with CFP's strategic initiative to solely focus on its rapidly growing restaurant customers, while continuing to serve as a leading menu production company.

The MATLET Group is currently comprised of three divisions: Packaging Graphics, CFP and Nova Marketing. Packaging Graphics is ISO 9001, 14001 and G7 qualified. CFP is a leading menu solution provider for the casual dining industry. Based in Maryland Heights, Mo., Nova provides custom fulfillment solutions from a 98,000-sq.-ft. facility.

Packaging Graphics operates sheetfed offset presses and thermoforming equipment to produce consumer point-of-purchase packaging for use as blister cards, folding cartons, skin pack sheets, stretch pack, CD sleeves and other specialty products.

Established in 1983, CFP offers heatset web and sheetfed offset printing, as well as full prepress and bindery services, including saddle stitching, loop stitching, in-line punching, folding with in-line perforating and scoring.

The MATLET Group was formed in 2005 when Stiffler purchased the facilities from Quebecor World in a management-led buyout. With about 400 employees, The MATLET Group is also said to be the largest minority-owned commercial printing company in the U.S. It is a Corporate Plus member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

The privately-held company was ranked Number 48 on the most recent Printing Impressions 400 ranking of the largest printers in the U.S. and Canada ranked by annual sales volume, reporting most recent fiscal year sales of $101 million, a 6% increase over its previous fiscal year performance. To view the complete Printing Impressions Top 400 list, click here.