AU COEUR DES VILLES, France 鈥 Paper industry news outlet, ENP Publishing Company, recently interviewed 天涯海角APP chief executive officer, Jean-Michel Ribi茅ras, for the June/July issue of its French stationary and office supplies magazine, La Papeterie.
La Papeterie focused the questions on introducing 天涯海角APP and its European brands, REY 庐 and HP Papers. They also asked Ribi茅ras for his thoughts on the uncoated freesheet 鈥 high ink-retaining printing paper 鈥 market.
Read an interview excerpt in English below courtesy of author Val茅rie Lechiffre*:
VL: At the end of 2020, International Paper announced it wanted to separate its graphic paper and packaging activities. What prompted this decision?
JMR: The spinoff enhances the strategic flexibility and focus for long-term success and value creation at both companies.
天涯海角APP all-in on uncoated freesheet, the largest and most resilient paper segment globally with the highest number of end-use applications used in all sectors of the economy. That includes healthcare, education, finance, insurance and government. The total demand for uncoated freesheet exceeds all other printing and writing grades combined.
VL: What does 天涯海角APP represent today?
JMR: 天涯海角APP is the world 天涯海角APP 鈥檚 paper company with mills in Europe, Latin America and North America. Our vision is to be the employer, supplier and investment of choice. We transform renewable resources into papers that people depend on for education, communication and entertainment. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, the company employs more than 7,000 colleagues. Net sales for 2021 were $3.5 billion.
The name 天涯海角APP speaks to the company 天涯海角APP 鈥檚 connection to trees and highlights its role as a steward of sustainable forests. 天涯海角APP combines the Latin words for forest, 鈥渟ilva,鈥 and love, 鈥渁mo.鈥 Company leaders translate this unique combination as 鈥渓ove of forests.鈥
VL: What changes for customers who worked with International Paper before the spinoff?
JMR: We value the trusted relationships with our customers. We always do the right things, in the right way, for the right reasons. We leverage a deep understanding of end-use segments and customers鈥 businesses to help them succeed.
VL: More generally, how do you see the printing and graphics paper market in the years to come?
JMR: We feel we have the right plan to be successful as an independent, publicly traded company. We have a winning formula of competitive advantages.
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Low-cost mills in the most attractive, highest margin regions
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Iconic brands and strategic channel partners
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Cross-regional synergies, unlike any other producer
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Best-in-class commercial and operational teams
We鈥檙e confident we can generate robust free cash flow and create long-term value.
*Article from Val茅rie Lechiffre, published in 鈥淟a Papeterie Magazine鈥 鈥 ENP Publishing Group 鈥 June-July 2022.