Dart Container Corporation
American manufacturer of food service packaging products including foam cups, plastic cups, and containers.
Company Type
public
Founded
1960
Headquarters
Mason, Michigan, USA
About Dart Container Corporation
Dart Container Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of foam cups and containers, producing billions of food service products annually. The company is vertically integrated, producing its own polystyrene resin, building the machinery that processes raw materials, manufacturing its own ink and packaging film, and transporting finished products on company-owned trucks.
The company's product portfolio includes cups, plates, bowls, containers, lids, straws, and cutlery made from materials including expanded polystyrene, plastic, paper, and compostable fiber. Dart serves the food service industry across restaurants, hospitals, schools, stadiums, and retail outlets. The company has also handled its own recycling efforts since the 1990s through foam recycling densifiers and collection programs.
History of Dart Container Corporation
Dart Manufacturing Company was originally founded in 1937 by William F. Dart as a small machine shop in Mason, Michigan. The shop manufactured key rings, steel tape measures, and dog tags for the Department of Defense. William A. Dart, his son, joined the family business in the late 1950s after graduating from the University of Michigan with degrees in metallurgy, mathematics, and engineering.
The father and son team experimented with expandable polystyrene (EPS) molding processes and shipped their first insulated foam cups in April 1960. Dart Container Corporation was formally incorporated in 1963. Among the company's first major clients were Chick-fil-A, Sysco, and US Foods, along with hospitals, schools, and sports stadiums.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Dart expanded operations to Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, and Texas, and began manufacturing plastic dinnerware and cutlery. In 1981, the company filed a patent for a press-down tab lid that allowed customers to drink while the lid remained on. Kenneth Dart became president in 1986, and the company expanded internationally to Mexico in 1996 and later to the United Kingdom, Australia, Argentina, and Brazil.
In May 2012, Dart Container acquired the Solo Cup Company in a deal valued at approximately $1 billion, adding the iconic Solo red cup to its portfolio. By 2013, the company had grown to 14,000 employees across 45 locations in 12 U.S. states and eight countries. In recent years, Dart has invested in compostable molded fiber products and paper alternatives as demand for polystyrene foam has declined due to environmental regulations.
Brands Owned by Dart Container Corporation
Dart Container Corporation owns 1 brand in our database.
Dart Container Corporation Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +World's largest foam cup manufacturer with unmatched production scale
- +Vertically integrated operations reduce costs and improve quality control
- +Private ownership allows long-term strategic planning without quarterly earnings pressure
- +Diversified product portfolio spanning foam, plastic, paper, and compostable materials
- +Global distribution network across eight countries
Considerations
- -Private ownership limits financial transparency and public accountability
- -Environmental scrutiny over polystyrene foam products and packaging waste
- -Regulatory bans on expanded polystyrene in several U.S. states and cities
- -Declining demand for foam products requires ongoing product diversification
- -Workforce reductions in recent years due to plant closures and market shifts
Frequently Asked Questions About Dart Container Corporation
Is Dart Container Corporation publicly traded?
Dart Container Corporation is not publicly traded. The company is entirely privately held by the Dart family and does not have shares listed on any stock exchange. There is no way for outside investors to purchase equity in the company.
Who founded Dart Container Corporation?
Dart Container Corporation traces its origins to Dart Manufacturing Company, founded in 1937 by William F. Dart. His son, William A. Dart, developed the foam cup business and shipped the first insulated foam cups in 1960. The company was formally incorporated as Dart Container Corporation in 1963.
When did Dart Container acquire Solo Cup Company?
Dart Container acquired the Solo Cup Company in May 2012 in a deal valued at approximately $1 billion. The acquisition added the iconic Solo red cup brand and expanded Dart's product mix into paper cups and dinnerware.
How many employees does Dart Container have?
Dart Container employs approximately 15,000 people across more than 45 locations in eight countries, including the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Argentina, and Brazil.
What products does Dart Container manufacture?
Dart Container manufactures a wide range of food service packaging products including foam cups, plastic cups, plates, bowls, containers, lids, straws, and cutlery. The company produces items from expanded polystyrene, plastic, paper, and compostable molded fiber materials.
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