Under the agreement, All-Star Packaging's president Paul Payerle will stay on at the Charlotte facility, as will most of the current All-Star staff. All- Star back-office functions will move to IPS's South Carolina operation.

"The acquisition of All-Star Packaging gives IPS a strategic location in Charlotte, allowing us to provide greater coverage in that area," stated IPS founder and president Jerry W. Murdock. "By bringing All-Star Packaging under the IPS umbrella, we are giving their customers a bigger source of supply and a wide range of additional industrial packaging products to carry."

Murdock plans to continue expanding IPS's geographic marketplace through selective quality acquisitions that will fit its profiles.

"All-Star Packaging has always been a very strong competitor with good people," Murdock explained. "They have done a really good job selling value to their customer. In terms of further expansion, we're looking for that kind of quality distributor in a strategic location."

Payerle expressed optimism about the merger. "I viewed the acquisition of All-Star Packaging by IPS Packaging as an exceptionally positive development for our employees and our customers," Payerle stated. "IPS Packaging has a broader range of products, more suppliers, and a far more substantial internal support system. Altogether, this enables All-Star Packaging to do a much better job serving our existing customer base and provides tremendous opportunities for future growth."