Our History – Owned & Operated in the United States
Rice Packaging founder, William A. Rice, became involved in a safety inspection program for General Motors early in his career while selling office equipment. He was intrigued with the metal edged boxes used to house the nuts and bolts because they were readily consumed, not stored, and were able to be reused as office equipment. Bill recognized an opportunity for repeat sales, and he went to work for a New England metal box manufacturer. Once on board he realized the need to reduce the cost of packaging in order to remain competitive, and set out to prove a glued box could be equally strong. When his proposal was met with resistance, he left the company and set out on his own.
Founded in 1964
Bill founded Rice Packaging in 1964 and set up operations in a quaint turn-of-the-century barn in Ellington, Connecticut. Over the years, several modern buildings were added to the original barn in order to accommodate the expanded operations.
In 1977, Bill was honored by President Jimmy Carter and members of Congress, and was named “Small Businessman of the Year- Connecticut.”
In 1985, Bill’s son, Clifford, took over the day-to-day operation of the business.
Today, Rice Packaging has the professional staff and the latest print-production technology needed to fulfill custom packaging order requirements. The company has also continued to expand its offerings and services in a variety of markets including food, pharmaceuticals, publishing and industrial goods.
Over the years Rice Packaging has grown from a small-town company to a packaging solutions organization servicing the Northeastern United States. And while times have changed, one aspect which has never budged throughout the years is our unbeatable determination to ensure every customer is completely satisfied.
With over 50 years of experience in packaging, we will work with you to create unique and durable packaging for every thing you need. We pride ourselves on our customer service and ability to produce high quality packaging for our customers. Rice Packaging will work together with you to determine what will work best for your product.