ORGANISERS of UKPackaging Expo, a new packaging trade show which launches at Manchester Central from September 3-4, have revealed the event has officially reached 95% floorplan capacity.
The response from exhibitors and brands has been described as ‘nothing short of phenomenal’, highlighting the appetite for a dedicated packaging event in the north of the country.
Created to address the ‘regional imbalance’ in access to industry events, UKPackaging Expo is designed to bring innovation, insight, and opportunity closer to the doorstep of thousands of northern businesses – including those in Scotland. From automation to sustainability, the show is tailored to serve the north’s packaging supply chain and its diverse industries.
More than 70 exhibitors have already been confirmed – including Sun Branding, Unilever, Markem Imaje, Toly, Fibrestar, Valpak, Avery Dennison, Lil Packaging, and Webpac. Pre-registered attendees include representatives from major brands such as Starbucks, Harrods, Diageo, Holland & Barrett, Best Buy, Reckitt, Charlotte Tilbury, and Asda.
“The north is home to a thriving manufacturing and logistics network, but the packaging industry’s biggest shows have always been too far away,” explained Jordan Bamford, MD at UKPackaging Expo. “UKPackaging Expo is a smarter, more accessible platform, rooted in place, but national in impact.”
In addition to the exhibitor showcase, UKPackaging Expo will deliver a speaker programme exploring themes such as sustainability; packaging apprenticeships; smart packaging and AI; greenwashing; and innovation shaping the UK packaging sector. Speakers include Sally Beken from UK Circular Plastics Network, Sarah Greenwood of the North of England Packaging Society, Holly Hobbs of Early Careers Talent Attraction, Claire Gusko from One.Five, and representatives from Beyondly and Sheffield Hallam University.
