The extreme weather conditions of the last few weeks did not seem to dampen the spirits and enthusiasm of the visitors to the CONRACT PACK show at Packaging innovations.
The British Contract Manufacturers and Packers Association were exhibiting with over 20 of their members, promoting the value and benefit for brand managers and retailers of outsourcing their packing needs to the experts.
It was a shame that the weather conditions were the worst for so many years but the net result was that the quality of the visitors who attended was of a high standard. This is important for all concerned. There is a value to dialogue, conversation and exchange of ideas which cannot always be achieved over the internet or phone, especially with the fast-moving change in packaging requirements and the desire to find alternative packaging materials or ways in which to streamline the supply chain.
On the BCMPA stand we were able to sign post brand owners and retailers to the search criteria on the BCMPA website and show visitors how to select a 3rd party partner for their co packing and manufacturing needs. ‘The feedback we get from visitors is always very positive and being able to show samples and discuss the practicalities of a project face to face can save valuable time and result in long term benefits’, says Emma Verkaik of the BCMPA.
Challenges for the future
There are considerable challenges afoot for the Packaging Industry and often challenges can result in bursts of innovation and creativity in order to overcome the hurdles that lie ahead. At the BCMPA we are certainly hearing of more collaboration between machinery manufacturers and contract packers as they determine how to deliver sustainable packaging options to reflect the changes in consumer behaviour and the need for alternative packaging formats. There is a growing role for machine manufacturers and packaging suppliers to work closely with contract manufacturers and packers to provide solutions to these issues.
There is also a need for contract manufacturers and packers to keep abreast of the fast-moving developments that are afoot and machinery manufacturers and packaging suppliers can help this process by bringing solutions and new innovation to the desks of their clients and providing them with the latest products available on the market. Co packers and manufacturers also need to actively search out these new areas of development and broaden their own horizons to ensure that they are well versed in the changing technology and can pass on their knowledge to their customer base and secure the future of their own operations.
As we often say at the BCMPA, a co packer or manufacturer is for all year around and not just for Christmas. Now that the snow is behind us, make time to visit your contract packer or manufacturer and see if together you can put some spring into future co pack projects.
