Tetra Pak began in the early 1950s as one of the first packaging companies for liquid milk. Since then, it has become one of the world's largest suppliers of packaging systems for liquid dairy products (milk, cream), juices, nectars and still drinks and now food items like tomato paste.
A package with the kind of shape that had so far only been seen in geometry lessons, manufactured by a machine that nobody could picture, and made of a material that didn't exist, Tetra Classic was Tetra Pak's first packaging system, launched some fifty years ago.
The first Tetra Classic Package - and Tetra Pak's first-ever commercial product - was launched in 1952. Until this point, both milk and cream had been sold loose over the counter or in glass bottles. When manual service in the shops began to be replaced by self-service, the need arose for a practical, manageable type of package that could replace glass bottles and loose milk sales. At the same time the demands for better hygiene increased. The new packaging system was extremely cost efficient to produce, and enabled an optimal use of material.
In Pakistan, Tetra Pak started its functions in 1982 as a joint venture between Tetra Pak International and Syed Babar Ali. Here the Company started with the sale of packaging and processing equipment from Tetra Pak companies outside Pakistan, also providing technical and marketing support for the Pakistan liquid food industry. The company is ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 certified.
Today the company focuses mainly on the milk segment and beverages. Other products that are now commonly sold in Tetra Classic Aseptic packages include tomato paste.
In 1991, the company expanded into liquid food processing equipment, plant engineering, and cheese manufacturing equipment. One important strategic step occurred in 1999 when Tetra Pak decided to invest in the "Emerging Markets". It became evident that modernising, revitalising and adapting the Tetra Classic system could meet the demands of these new markets.
Today, it is the only international company in the world able to provide integrated processing, packaging, and distribution line and plant solutions for liquid foods manufacturing. The company's vision is to make food safe and available, everywhere. It works for and with its customers to provide preferred processing and packaging solutions for food.
At Tetra Pak, innovation is the result of the total process of developing an idea into a product or a new way of working, which adds value to the business. The company applies its commitment to innovation, its understanding of consumer needs and its relationships with suppliers to deliver these solutions, wherever and whenever food is consumed. It believes in responsible industry leadership, creating profitable growth in harmony with environmental sustainability and good corporate citizenship.
Tetra Pak is no longer only synonymous with liquid-food cartons. It supplies hundreds of different types of packaging, from cartons to PET bottles. It is developing its own state-of-the-art processing solutions, and designs and services liquid-food plants. It contributes in co-operation with its customers and suppliers to the safe, efficient and environmentally sound production and distribution of liquid foods to the consumers.
Tetra Pak currently has 77 market companies around the world, 59 packaging material plants (including licensees), and 12 packaging machine assembly factories. The company has 21,000 employees and in 2001 reached net sales of Euros 7.6 billion. Its products are sold in over 165 markets.
THE COMPANY IS ALSO STRIVING TO ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE IN THE THREE MAJOR AREAS OF ITS BUSINESS ACTIVITIES: product design and manufacturing; management processes, and communication. Its primary environmental objective is to minimise the environmental impact of its products throughout their entire life cycle.
We commit to making food safe and available everywhere.
-- We work for and with our customers to provide preferred processing and packaging solutions for food
-- We apply our commitment to innovation, our understanding of consumer needs and our relationships with suppliers to deliver these solutions, wherever and whenever food is consumed
-- We believe in responsible industry leadership, creating profitable growth in harmony with environmental sustainability and good corporate citizenship.