UPM & Sappi agree
paper partnership

JV follows K-C/Suzano deal.
Declining mkt consolidation 

Not entirely surprising news from the top international papermakers: UPM and Sappi have announced plans to combine their Euro-centric graphic paper businesses – encompassing 12 paper mills including the UK – into a new joint venture. UPM CEO Massimo Reynaudo "The JV will rationalize an industry in decline, overcapacity and high energy costs" Full story here, first

Newell's renewal
need faced at last?

Writing on wall for collapsing
house of obsolete brands?

Newell Brands the $7Bn house of business & consumer brands' is at last rolling out a productivity plan inc.-10% white-collar headcount cut. CEO  Chris Peterson has presided over a 61% drop in market cap YTD; and -50% sales volume drop v 2019. Is it too late to create a growth strategy v the usual cost cutting projects? The outlook seems dire?

Has BOSS Awards
gone backwards?

Partying with paperclips as
an iceberg imperils future?

The BOSS Awards ceremony has been a wonderful celebration of excellence for over 40 years. But is it getting tired, too narrow, too predictable lacking in innovation? Maybe still relevant in pure office supply, but in our view well behind in broadline business supplies. Full story here, first...updated

Buffetti buffers
AI retail future 

Transforming trad retailers'
cybersecurity & AI fitness

The final conference of BigBuyer'25 Day 3 was hosted by Gruppo Buffetti chief Francesco Villa. His team plus new vendors presented an exciting future with guidance in cybersecurity & AI implementation; together with new product opportunities to add value in retail/webstores. Full story here, first...

W h o l e s a l e r
R e v o l u t i o n ?

BigBuyer'25 Most popular
exhibitor w Italian resellers?

Day 2 at BigBuyer'25 attracted a big huddle of office dealers at the OD+ stand (Office Distribution Plus, not a resurrection of dying Depot!). We spoke with director Franco Grossi about the new group of 3 wholesalers that have revived after the death of Spicers, Adveo and are driving forward with genuine logistics and marketing services for 5000 OP independents. Full story here, first....

Mobility beats
S t a t i o n a r y !

BigBuyer'25 Bologna Day1

report on Design Awards

The 29th Edition of BigBuyer organised by Mariella Pfeiffer of Edinova got off to an exciting start with the Top Design awards. Whereas stationery was still dominant, after many years of attending this show we noticed a distinct shift of emphasis to '"reinvenzione della ufficio mobile'' Gracie Mille! Full story first, including the presentations on the Future of the Office..updated

Energizer's  f l a t 
battery d e c l i n e

Declining volume, offset by
higher pricing yields losses

Energizer the battery and auto-care supplier to businesses, continued to lose market share in Q4'25 after a strong growth during the Covid WFH/Hybrid era. CEO Mark Livigne seemed complacent commenting that "we delivered strong earnings"? Another decline? Report analysis here, first

BigBuyer: Present
& Future of Office

Conference & Expo Preview
in Bologna 26-28 November

BigBuyer 2025 is the 29th Edition of the International Trade Show for the office supply market. As other European events have waned and not adapted to the broadline business supply market, the Italian organizers have progressed. Full preview here, first

Sylvamo plays pill
protection v Atlas

Reduces hostile takeover risk
by aggressive accumulator

Struggling papermaker Sylvamo was spun-off by IP in Oct'21 and has underperformed since in volume and price. VC Atlas Holdings has built a 20%+ stake and now their co-op arrangement has been terminated the Sylvamo board is playing defence. Full details here, first

Sylvamo s l i d e s
in serious tailspin?

CEO distracts from priorities?
Atlas co-op deal terminated

Papermaker Sylvamo CEO Jean-Michel Ribieras' minimalistic report distracted from serious secular decline "I'm proud of how our teams executed by focusing on operational excellence" he said. Really, volume/prices demand is in freefall decelerating at a faster rate? Full report analysis here, first