Jamestown Container celebrates 70 years, eyes continued growth in Rochester

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Jamestown Container Companies, a leading corrugated packaging provider across the Great Lakes region, is marking its 70th anniversary in 2026 — highlighting decades of growth, strategic investment and a deep-rooted commitment to customer partnerships.  

For the Rochester business community, the milestone underscores the company’s ongoing role as a significant regional manufacturer and employer. 

Founded in 1956 by Glenn Janowsky, Jamestown Container has grown from a single facility into a multilocation packaging organization serving a diverse mix of manufacturing and fast-moving consumer goods companies.  

Its Rochester operation has emerged as a cornerstone of that growth and is now the company’s largest site. 

“The Rochester facility is an important part of the business,” said Kristen Erwin, regional general manager.  

She noted the business has roughly 170 local employees and continues to hire as it expands.  

The site itself has a long industrial legacy, operating continuously since 1951.  

Originally established as Fort Worth Box Company, it later became part of St. Joe Container and Gaylord Container before being acquired by Jamestown Container in 1994.  

Today, the facility specializes in multicolor direct print, litho laminate, and top sheet products, supported by advanced converting equipment including flexo folder gluers, rotary and flatbed die cutters, and specialty gluing systems. 

That technical capability positions the Rochester operation to serve increasingly complex packaging needs, particularly as supply chains evolve and demand grows for high-quality, customized solutions. 

Looking ahead, Jamestown Container is planning aggressive growth for the Rochester site, with a dual focus on increasing sales and strengthening its workforce.  

The company was built on relationships, customer service, pricing and quick service, but has since gone beyond that, according to Joseph R. Palmeri, vice president and chief operating officer of Jamestown Container. 

He added that, over time, the company has expanded through acquisitions, continuous improvement initiatives and securing its supply chain.  

“That discipline has been key to our long-term growth,” he said.  

Investments in automation, design innovation, sustainability and safety continue to further enhance efficiency and responsiveness, company leaders said.  

The company’s emphasis on continuous improvement, guided in part by Deming principles, has helped it maintain a reputation for reliability and quality in a highly competitive industry.

At the same time, Jamestown Container continues to invest in employee development, with many team members building long-term careers across its operations. 

CEO and President Bruce Janowsky said those relationships, both internal and external, have been central to the company’s success. 

“We just have great relationships with the people in our industry,” Janowsky said. “It’s really quite rewarding to look back at those relationships and how they helped us grow.” 

Still family-owned and operated, Jamestown Container maintains facilities throughout the region, including operations in Ohio and Western New York.  

As it enters its eighth decade, the company remains focused on delivering high-quality packaging solutions while investing in the people and technologies that will drive its next phase of growth, its leaders said. 

To commemorate its 70th anniversary, Jamestown Container has planned a series of initiatives throughout 2026, including community engagement efforts, employee recognition programs, customer appreciation events and a commemorative video highlighting its history and future vision. 

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