Antalis absorbs Papyrus operations across ten European markets to consolidate distribution

A strategic push for scale in European paper distribution

The European paper distribution landscape continues its rapid consolidation. In a definitive move this 2026, Antalis has signed a binding agreement to acquire the paper distribution activities of Papyrus across Central and Eastern Europe, Switzerland, and Germany from OptiGroup. This transaction highlights a clear industry trend: as traditional print volumes face structural adjustments, distributors must secure massive scale and logistical density to maintain margins and service quality.

The scope of the acquisition is substantial. It encompasses Papyrus operations in Switzerland, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. To understand the weight of this integration, these specific regional businesses generated approximately €215 million in net sales in 2025. The deal brings 255 employees, an operational network of 12 warehouses, and a portfolio of 13,000 customers into the Antalis fold, adding 21,000 SKUs of printing and office papers to their regional offering.

OptiGroup refocuses on core strongholds

For OptiGroup, the divestment is a calculated strategic realignment. By offloading its Central and Eastern European assets, the company is freeing up capital to focus on its core markets. OptiGroup will retain its Papyrus and Scaldia operations in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. Niklas Berntsson, President and CEO of OptiGroup, noted that this allows the group to continue building on its strengths in the Benelux and Nordic regions, where it maintains a dominant position as a broader B2B service and solutions provider.

Antalis and the pursuit of operational efficiency

Backed by the Japanese KPP Group, Antalis has been executing an aggressive expansion strategy over the past few years. Following recent acquisitions in the packaging and visual communication sectors across Europe, absorbing the Papyrus network allows Antalis to drastically improve its route density and purchasing power in the CEE region and Germany. Hervé Poncin, CEO of Antalis, emphasized that combining customer bases and logistics networks will enable the company to provide stronger support to regional customers.

In the current 2026 market environment, where supply chain reliability is paramount for print service providers, having a single, highly capitalized distributor can offer stability. However, it also means fewer alternatives for buyers, shifting the competitive dynamics of the European paper market toward a battle of mega-distributors.

This acquisition is a textbook example of smart consolidation, allowing Antalis to leverage logistics density in a mature market while securing vital supply chains for print service providers. As mega-distributors continue to absorb regional players, will local printers face a lack of alternative suppliers, or will this scale finally bring the logistical stability the sector desperately needs? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai