Sun Valley, CA-based paperboard-packaging converter Marfred Industries acquires RICO Packaging Materials of El Cajon, CA, on June 2. The move extends Marfred's geographic reach into the San Diego marketplace. RICO has served its area customers for 30 years with corrugated cases, packaging materials and shipping supplies. All of RICO's employees will stay on with the company.

Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., Chicago, wraps up its planned acquisition of Arko Paper Products Co., a folding-carton converter with plants in Piscataway and Plainfield, NJ. The purchase price was approximately $30 million. Arko Paper Products manufactures folding cartons for a variety of cosmetic and personal-care product companies. Its two facilities employ approximately 170 people, and the operations will become part of Smurfit-Stone's Consumer Packaging division.

Flex-pack converter Petoskey Plastics, Inc. strengthens its strategic marketing approach by reorganizing into four divisions. The MI-based maker of blown-PE film and printer of specialty bags now serves customers via groups for Automotive OEMs, Automotive Aftermarket Mfrs., Retail, and a newly formed Packaging Div. David Rimer has been hired as executive director of the Packaging Div., whose initial focus will be the food, household-goods, institutional, merchandise, convenience and industrial markets.