Pictured (L-R): Mark Hughes, Coveris UK Flex Print Development Manager; Josie Mitchell, Coveris Internal Account Executive; Scott Stansfield, Coveris Burnley Print Manager; Amy Miller, Coveris Key Account Manager; FIA UK Awards presenter
Coveris has been recognised for outstanding print at the 2026 Flexographic Industry Association (FIA) UK Awards, securing a prestigious Gold in the ‘Surface Print on Film Medium Web’ category.
The annual FIA UK Awards celebrate excellence across flexographic print, recognising the highest standards in quality, efficiency, innovation, technical development and sustainability. This year’s ceremony took place on Thursday 11 June 2026 at the iconic Titanic Hotel in Liverpool, bringing together leading names from across the industry.
Coveris’ award-winning entry is for Tesco Finest Rosemary & Sea Salt Focaccia packaging, printed at the company’s Burnley site in Lancashire.
The packaging design conveys a premium, artisanal feel, featuring the product’s main flavours, fresh rosemary and sea salt, set against a grey slate background, a concept requiring precise print reproduction to translate the intended aesthetic onto pack.
Achieving this demands a high level of flexographic expertise, with accurate register essential throughout, particularly across fine text elements to ensure clarity and legibility. Careful control of contrast and detail preserves the texture of the slate while allowing the green tones of the rosemary to stand out.
Smooth tonal gradation maintains depth and realism, resulting in a clean, sophisticated finish that brings the design to life and supports the premium positioning of the product.
The packaging is printed on OPP film which is currently recyclable through UK retailer front-of-store collection points. It is also recycle-ready in line with the UK’s upcoming Simpler Recycling legislation, under which mandatory kerbside collections for plastic films and bags are expected to be introduced from March 2027.
Richard Smith, Managing Director for Coveris’ Burnley and Gainsborough sites, commented: “We are very pleased to have received this recognition from the FIA UK Awards. It highlights the strength of our flexographic print capabilities and the precision our teams bring to every stage of the process, from colour management through to final execution. This project demonstrates the value of close collaboration in delivering packaging that faithfully reproduces designs while achieving consistently high-quality results on press. My thanks go to all partners involved in delivering this project, and our team for their expertise and attention to detail.”
The FIA UK success marks Coveris’ second award win of the year. Earlier in 2026, the company, together with its former Paper Business Unit, Paranova Print & Packaging, was named winner of the Environmental & Sustainability Award at The Sammies, the British Sandwich & Food To Go Industry Awards.