Southern Champion Tray celebrated 90 years of packaging in July 2020. Credit: Southern Champion Tray.
SCT bought Honeymoon Paper Products in June 2020. Credit: Southern Champion Tray.
Southern Champion Tray’s Guarantab© won the PPC’s Innovation of the Year Award in November 2019. Credit: Southern Champion Tray.

Paperboard packaging company Southern Champion Tray (SCT) is developing a new manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, US, to expand its operations in the region.

The $84.9m manufacturing facility is expected to generate more than 120 jobs over the next five years. Construction is expected to commence in early 2021, with completion scheduled for 2022.

Southern Champion Tray was supported by the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce throughout the planning phase.

Southern Champion Tray’s new manufacturing facility details

The site of the proposed manufacturing facility is located in the Centre South Riverport Industrial Park in Chattanooga, Hamilton County.

Southern Champion Tray’s new manufacturing facility will be involved in the conversion of paperboard into packaging products such as food trays, speciality packaging bakery boxes and cupcake inserts.

It will contribute to the growth of Hamilton County and will join SCT’s three other sites in Chattanooga.

Sustainability features implemented by Southern Champion Tray

Certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the company procures paper and wood products from responsible sources.

The products manufactured by the company are made from paperboard, a recyclable resource, and are also compostable.

The company’s solar panels produce sufficient energy to power 50 homes a year. SCT monitors the use of materials throughout the manufacturing process to ensure low impact on the environment.

The lightweight paperboard lowers the consumption of fuel during transportation. The company’s truck fleet is equipped with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Smart-Way Technology, which improves efficiency and reduces fuel usage.

Southern Champion Tray’s product portfolio

The product portfolio includes food sleeves, window boxes, trays, cupcake inserts, blister cards and more than 500 bakery and food-service packaging items. The company exports paperboard and corrugated packaging for bakery, foodservice and catering markets, as well as moulded fibre tableware products and food and drink carriers.

“Southern Champion Tray’s new manufacturing facility will be involved in the conversion of paperboard into packaging products such as food trays, speciality packaging bakery boxes and cupcake inserts.”

In August 2020, Southern Champion Tray introduced its latest product line, Natural ChampWare™, covering plates, platers, clamshells and bowls. The company also offers Guarantab©, a new tamper-evident packaging system for restaurants and food delivery service companies.

In addition to the products, SCT offers services such as structural design, graphic design, flexographic and lithographic printing, on-site carton erecting support, warehousing, windowing, and floor stocking programmes.

Marketing commentary on Southern Champion Tray

Southern Tray Champion is a family-owned company manufacturing paperboard packaging for the bakery and foodservice industry. Established in 1927, the company is headquartered in Chattanooga and has more than 750 employees.

It serves markets such as foodservice, bakery, frozen foods, supermarket, personal care, cosmetic, retail, electronics, medical and pharmaceutical.

The company acquired Honeymoon Paper Products in June 2020 to expand its product line manufacturing capabilities. SCT operates offices in different locations such as Chattanooga, Mansfield in Texas, and Fairfield in Ohio.

Southern Champion Tray won six awards at the 76th Annual North American Paperboard Packaging Competition in October 2019. Its Guarantab© tamper-evident package for food delivery was awarded the Paperboard Packaging Council’s (PPC) Innovation of the Year Award at the competition.