The BCMPA – the Association for Contract Manufacturing, Packing, Fulfilment & Logistics – will highlight the importance of third-party partnerships and celebrate a new generation of entrepreneurs at The Contract Pack and Fulfilment Show co-located with Packaging Innovations and Empack. The show, which takes place at the NEC Birmingham on 11th – 12th February, will feature the cumulation of the Pitch the Co-Packers competition, while the BCMPA’s hospitality stand will provide attendees with practical guidance on selecting the right outsourcing partners.
Emma Verkaik, CEO of the BCMPA, said: “The event will highlight how our community is growing and the positive impact BCMPA members are making to their customers. Third party manufacturers, packers and logistics providers can unlock the true potential of a successful product launch. Critical production scale-up happens thanks to collaboration across the supply chain.”
At the heart of the show will be the BCMPA’s hospitality stand. Visitors can meet exhibiting BCMPA members face-to-face and view live demonstrations of the Association’s online search platform. Featuring over 200 member companies, the BCMPA website search facility helps businesses find tailormade solutions to meet their specific outsourcing needs, by service, sector and even quality certification.
Exhibiting BCMPA members at the show will be: Alexir; ALS Labelling Solutions; Charles Kendall; Colorites; Complete Co-Packing Services; ESL Studio; Expac; Food Nutrition Partners; Glowcroft; Granby Marketing; Integrated Packing Services; Lemonpath; Lyte Packaging; Mibelle, Premier Labellers; PHL Group, Poppypac; Prism eLogistics; The Finishing Line; Universal Flexible Packaging; VPac Packaging; WeFill; and WePack.
The show will see the final of the newly launched Pitch the Co-Packers a Dragons’ Den style competition – which will be judged on the second day – and illustrates the importance of working with the right outsourcing partner, giving ambitious start-ups a unique opportunity to connect directly with the UK’s top contract packing, manufacturing and fulfilment specialists. The finalists will be able to hear live feedback from judges, providing them with a practical bridge between ideas and execution, where founders can pitch live, engage in open discussions, receive expert feedback, and start conversations that could shape the future of their brands.
Emma Verkaik added: “Pitch the Co-Packers demonstrates the importance of collaboration. It will also give the winner a valuable opportunity to take advantage of industry expertise. There is an exciting new generation of innovative and entrepreneurial talent and it’s important that the BCMPA supports this across a range of markets.”
In addition, Emma will be among the judges for the Future Trailblazer Awards which celebrates rising stars who are driving innovation and shaping the future of packaging. Emma will also participate as a speaker on two sessions on the Supply Chain Stage. Delivered by the contract pack software provider Nulogy, the sessions are titled ‘How software empowers successful co-packing’ and ‘Modern solutions for the modern co-packing provider’.
The #outsourcingis campaign will go into its second year, challenging misconceptions about outsourcing, co-packing, and third-party fulfilment to build trust and credibility. ‘Myth Busting’ will be a series of vox pops asking visitors to answer rapid quick-fire questions on outsourcing to which they reply ‘True’ or ‘False’. Responses will be developed into video content, and the campaign will provide a dedicated social media handle to encourage engagement from members and a wider audience.
The exhibition will continue to highlight the outsourcing services available from BCMPA members across sectors such as such as food and drink, personal care, nutraceuticals, household, chemicals, e-commerce, fulfilment, pharmaceuticals, and beyond. Visitors can also find out more about the BCMPA’s Associate Membership programme. Launched last year, the scheme connects brands with sponsor companies across contract manufacturing, packing, fulfilment, and logistics, helping members enhance their offerings and driving collaboration across supply chains.
More information can be found here.