Bruce Berry, who helped bring vacuum packaging technology to North America more than 40 years ago, is retiring in August.
Berry is stepping down as president and CEO of Winpak Ltd., a leading integrated plastic packaging company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He held those positions for the last 14 years, guiding the company's growth internally and through acquisition to more than US$822 million in annual sales for fiscal 2016. Winpak is now a major player in flexible and rigid barrier packaging and related equipment.
Berry started out in 1975 as the North American agent for barrier packaging developed by Wihuri Oy of Helsinki, Finland. He became the first employee of Winpak Ltd. when it was created at about that time and has remained with the business since then. In 2016 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters association.
Berry will be succeeded by Olivier Muggli, now Winpak's vice president and chief operating officer. Muggli has been a Winpak employee for six years after management positions in packaging companies in Europe and North America.