Co-packers benefit from Brexit doubt

“Due to Brexit uncertainty and the shift in materials away from plastics, brand owners are often reticent to invest in machinery,”​ British Contract Manufacturing and Packaging Association (BCMPA) chief executive Rodney Steel told Food Manufacture.

“Our members are very flexible and open to new ideas, including new packaging ideas.” ​

In fact, the industry offered much more than just a packaging function, Steel said. “There’s a lot more demand from clients looking for an end-to-end service,”​ he added. “It could start as early as the pack concept and design, the manufacture of the product, all the way through to packing, labelling and storage.” ​

The BCMPA works to emphasise the fulfilment and logistics side of co-packing, Steel said. “It’s about clients not wanting to handle goods more than they have to, so chilled and frozen storage is key for the food industry,”​ he explained.