Ahead of the Curve

"Capacity has to come out of the industry somehow," says Markens, "so consolidation will continue for large and small players." The collective aging of carton company owners leads him to expect many age-50-and-older executives will cash out, particularly if no next-of-kin are in position to take over the business. "Over the last year, the carton industry lost a lot of old-line companies, such as F.N. Burt, and this year it may lose a few more," he adds.