Close to 100 jobs lost as 2 Massachusetts packaging plants shut down

The packaging company, Garlock Flexibles, is closing down two facilities in Gardner and laying off 91 employees, according to a WARN notice filed with the state.

The company says it anticipates the facilities at 164 Fredette St. and 77 Industrial Rowe will close by the end of September. The notice says that a small number of administrative and leadership positions will remain after the plant closures.

Headquartered in Gardner, Garlock Flexibles provides packaging solutions for food, snacks, and produce.

Astara Capital Partners, LLC, bought the flexible packaging operations of Garlock Printing & Converting in January 2021.

Astara Capital Partners is an investment team that has businesses in packaging, food, building products, and industrial manufacturing.

In 1987, Garlock began as a printed tissue and paper packaging center, serving brands such as Talbots and the Gap, according to its website. By 2001, customers included JCPenney, Hallmark, American Greetings, and Victoria’s Secret. 

To serve the West Coast, the company expanded to Reno, Nevada, in 2013 and, in 2018, opened a 75,000-square-foot warehouse to support operations. 

After Astara Capital Partners acquired the company, it worked with Seaman Paper to separate the company’s paper and tissue business from its newer flexible film packaging business. 

According to its website, the company rebranded as Garlock Flexibles in 2023 to honor its founder, Pete Garlock.

It remains unclear whether the company will continue to have a footprint in the state. 

Neither Astara Capital Partners nor Garlock Flexibles immediately returned a request for additional information. 

Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime, and business in the New England region.