05/11/2025

The Interview: Matías Guri, General Manager of Petropack

From your leadership perspective, what are the main challenges in running the company strategically?
The main challenge is to maintain competitiveness in an increasingly demanding global market, support the shift toward more sustainable packaging, and ensure efficiency through the entire value chain. At the strategic level, we aim to balance innovation with operational strength to quickly address market demands without compromising quality consistency. As regards the operational part, our daily effort focuses on maintaining a high-quality service meeting each partner's standards. Developing and attracting talent is essential, as is keeping teams motivated—behind every response, delivery, and technological advance, there are people who make it possible.
Petropack is positioned in the flexible packaging industry. What solutions are you developing for the pet food segment, and what differentiates you in the market?
We mainly work with high-barrier packaging in the pet food market to ensure product preservation, freshness, and food safety. Through our technologies of coextrusion up to 7 layers and different films, we have developed layering structures and recyclable monomaterials with high magnetic resistance, strong sealing properties, and accurate pallets due to their high friction coefficient and air evacuation system.

Personalization is our key differentiator—whether in formats, structures, printed design, or technical support—from packaging development to installation on the bagging line. We are not only a packaging supplier but also a strategic partner.
When it comes to technological innovation, where are you placing your bets? Is there a technology, system, or project that stands out for its impact on quality or efficiency?
At Petropack, we strive to be at the forefront of each stage of the conversion process. From the extrusion process to the polyethylene film, we create high-performance formulas, offering mechanical resistance, fat migration stability, and barrier properties against moisture, oxygen, and light, and we leverage the potential of 7-layering coextrusion. One of our major investments is Printastic, a flexographic printer with expanded foam and digital modulation, with which we achieve ultra-high-definition levels that set us apart in the market. In the cutting step, we incorporated laser cutting to develop personalized easy open patterns, inside micro-perforations at 140 microns for ventilation, alphanumeric single codes for each packaging (ideal for sales), special labels, and NFC technology. Finally, in manufacturing, we implemented super premium-oriented innovations, such as degassing valves, side handles, Innolok and 360-like sealings, foldover bottoms, and rounded corners, among others. In addition to improving functionality, these features add unique value to the consumer experience.   In a dynamic industry like pet food, how do you address market needs and adapt to changing consumer demands?
We address the needs by actively listening to our clients and following global trends. The pet food category is sensitive to shifts in consumption habits: even more consumers are looking for practical, recyclable, and different packaging. To succeed, it is crucial to stay close to clients and support their business growth through innovation. Always seeking to be at the forefront, we also have a close relationship with suppliers, associations, and organisms that set the agenda in innovation and sustainability, which help us to apply these insights in concrete solutions for the regional market.
In addition to the product itself, what do customers value in a packaging supplier? How do you address customer experience and long-term relationships?
Customers evaluate satisfaction in a more integral way: they consider not only the product but also technical support, offers versatility, and short lead times. As a result, Petropack focuses on service; our expert teams follow up after sales, training, and direct assistance in plants when required. We want to establish long-term relationships based on transparency and joint innovation. Our commitment extends beyond packaging; Petropacks knows that each packaging represents the client's projections to the market.
From a strategic perspective, what role does Latin America play in Petropack's expansion and positioning? Are you planning to reach additional countries?
Latin America is the starting point for our expansion. We are already present in several markets, and our goal is to consolidate and focus on countries with growth potential in the pet food industry. Our value proposal has strengths in neighboring markets, where we aim not only to sell packaging but also to share knowledge and tailored solutions. International expansion is a key axis in our short-term strategic plan. 

'The pet food industry in Latin America is experiencing dynamism and professionalism. Packaging is essential in the value chain—besides protecting the product, it communicates the brand and connects with consumers' emotions. At Petropack, we are committed to investing in technology and human talent to address this growth by providing solutions that combine innovation, sustainability, and profitability.'

Thank you, Matias, for sharing your experience and insights about the industry!
  By Matías Guri, General Manager of Petropack
Source: All Pet Food Magazine