APPLIED Adhesives has been appointed the exclusive U.S. distributor for Henkel’s flexible packaging technologies, expanding access to adhesive and coating solutions used by food, beverage, health and beauty, and pet product packaging manufacturers across the United States.
The partnership, announced on 8 July, combines Henkel’s portfolio of flexible packaging adhesives with APPLIED Adhesives’ nationwide sales, technical support and logistics network. The companies said the agreement is designed to strengthen service for packaging converters while supporting demand for high-performance and more sustainable packaging solutions.
What is the partnership?
The agreement makes APPLIED Adhesives the sole U.S. distribution partner for Henkel’s flexible packaging adhesive portfolio. Packaging converters will be able to source Henkel’s adhesive and coating technologies through APPLIED, which will provide local inventory, technical assistance and customer support across the country.
The initial focus will be on converters supplying packaging for food and beverage products, health and beauty items, and pet food and pet care products.
Flexible packaging adhesives play a critical role in manufacturing pouches, sachets, stand-up bags and other multilayer packaging formats widely used throughout the grocery and FMCG sectors. They help bond different materials together while meeting performance, food safety and regulatory requirements.
At a glance
- APPLIED Adhesives becomes Henkel’s exclusive U.S. distributor for flexible packaging technologies.
- The partnership covers Henkel’s adhesive and coating portfolio for flexible packaging applications.
- Initial focus includes food and beverage, health and beauty, and pet product packaging.
- APPLIED will provide national sales coverage, technical services and logistics support.
- Henkel brings more than 30 years of experience in flexible packaging technologies.
- The companies aim to improve customer access, technical support and supply chain responsiveness.
The partnership reflects continued investment in the flexible packaging market, where manufacturers are seeking materials that support product protection, operational efficiency and evolving sustainability objectives.
Demand for flexible packaging continues to grow across grocery retail as brands increasingly use lightweight packaging formats for snacks, frozen foods, coffee, confectionery, dairy products and pet food. At the same time, packaging manufacturers are redesigning structures to improve recyclability and reduce material use, increasing demand for specialised adhesive technologies that can support these new packaging formats.
For supermarket own-brand suppliers and branded food manufacturers, reliable access to packaging materials and technical expertise can help maintain production efficiency while meeting retailer quality and compliance requirements.
Henkel is one of the world’s largest suppliers of industrial adhesives, sealants and coatings through its Adhesive Technologies business. In North America, the company reported sales of approximately US$6.1 billion (€5.4 billion) in 2025, while globally Henkel generated around €20.5 billion in sales during the same year.
APPLIED Adhesives distributes industrial adhesives, coatings and related equipment across multiple manufacturing sectors and has continued expanding its presence in specialised packaging applications.
What happens next?
The exclusive distribution partnership is expected to be rolled out across the U.S. flexible packaging market, with APPLIED supporting converters through its national sales and technical service network. As food manufacturers and supermarket suppliers continue investing in recyclable and high-performance packaging, the collaboration is positioned to strengthen access to Henkel’s adhesive technologies while supporting evolving packaging requirements across the grocery supply chain.
Editor’s note: This article is based on an official announcement issued by APPLIED Adhesives on 8 July 2026, together with publicly available corporate information from APPLIED Adhesives and Henkel to provide additional industry context and background.
