Zeus Group has acquired UK-based Empire Tapes and Spanish packaging firm Rio Tinto Plásticos, in a move to strengthen its position across the European packaging market. The deals support Zeus’ strategy of expanding both its technical packaging and sustainable food packaging offerings.
Empire Tapes brings over two decades of experience in high-performance adhesive technologies. Known for its UK-based manufacturing and technical expertise, the company supplies industrial clients both domestically and internationally. The acquisition enhances Zeus’ capabilities in specialist adhesives, including double-sided, masking, and barrier tapes.
Rio Tinto Plásticos, based in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, operates under the Rio Tinto Eco-Solutions brand and provides single-use, sustainable packaging for the vending, hospitality, and catering sectors. The acquisition builds on an existing commercial relationship between the two companies and solidifies Zeus’ presence in the Iberian market.
“These acquisitions reflect Zeus’ ambition to deliver world-class, sustainable packaging solutions by combining technical excellence with local market insight,” said Brian O’Sullivan, founder and owner of Zeus Group. “Empire Tapes and Rio Tinto Plásticos are both highly respected operators in their fields. Their addition to the Zeus family brings new capability, enhanced customer value, and an even stronger platform for future growth across Europe.”
Gerardo Paredes, general director of Rio Tinto Plásticos, will continue in his current role and will also lead Zeus’ Food Packaging Division. Dean Sherriff, chairman of Empire Tapes, expressed support for the acquisition, citing the opportunity to grow and develop further under Zeus’ ownership.
Zeus said both acquisitions will unlock operational synergies through shared systems, overlapping infrastructure, and mutual customer bases. Empire Tapes boosts Zeus’ industrial adhesives offering, while Rio Tinto’s biodegradable and compostable products align with the group’s environmental goals.
