The UK’s packaging industry is heading north this autumn, as UKPackaging Expo 2025 opens its doors for the first time at Manchester Central on 3rd – 4th September 2025. As the only major packaging exhibition dedicated to Northern England, the event is set to welcome over 2,500 attendees, offering both visitors and exhibitors a fresh, solutions-focused alternative to traditional southern-based shows – at 40% of the price.
With a clear mission to champion practical packaging innovation and foster meaningful business connections, UKPackaging Expo 2025 is designed to serve the real-world needs of packaging professionals across the region’s thriving food & beverage, beauty, manufacturing, e-commerce, and pharmaceutical sectors, plus many more. The show also places a strong emphasis on sustainability, encouraging exhibitors with genuine environmental credentials and showcasing technologies aligned with circular economy principles and net-zero targets.
Jordan Bamford, UKPackaging Expo’s Managing Director, said: “Our aim is simple – to create a packaging event that works harder for the North. Our show will be more accessible, more affordable, and more aligned with what both exhibitors and visitors actually need. We’ve designed the show specifically to focus on practical innovation, to ensure that every exhibitor and every visitor walks away armed with tangible, business-building knowledge and insight. Not to mention the invaluable new relationships and partnerships sure to be built throughout the event. It’s a really exciting prospect and we’re proud to offer something fresh to the market.”
Showcase, connect, grow
UKPackaging Expo provides a premium exhibition experience with a transparent pricing model and all-inclusive stand packages, cutting the complexity and cost typically associated with exhibiting. Designed for businesses targeting the northern packaging market, the event connects exhibitors with a highly targeted audience of buyers, engineers, production leads, and brand managers. It offers a valuable platform to showcase sustainable solutions and practical innovation - while supporting exhibitors with collaborative marketing tools and hands-on assistance to help drive visitor engagement. Above all, the expo fosters a genuinely relationship-led environment, putting people and long-term partnerships at the heart of the experience.
Discover solutions that work
UKPackaging Expo is where packaging professionals come to solve real challenges and explore the latest in practical innovation. Visitors will gain direct access to over 100 carefully selected exhibitors, representing the full spectrum of the packaging industry – from materials and supplies to machinery, automation, sustainable alternatives, and design services.
The event is tailored to meet the needs of a wide range of industry professionals including:
- Packaging technicians and engineers focused on improving line efficiency
- Buyers with material sourcing and budget responsibilities
- Sustainability leads seeking lower-impact solutions
- Production managers seeking manufacturing performance gains
- Brand and marketing leads enhancing shelf impact and storytelling
In addition to the exhibition floor, attendees will benefit from live demonstrations, informal networking opportunities, and educational sessions designed to deliver practical takeaways - from cost savings to operational insights.
Proudly Northern, nationally relevant
Positioned in the heart of Manchester – just minutes from major rail links and easily accessible from across the UK – UKPackaging Expo offers a smarter, more convenient event experience for the packaging community. As a city with a proud industrial legacy and a long-standing reputation as a manufacturing powerhouse, Manchester provides a fitting and symbolic backdrop for the expo. It’s a return to the heartland of British industry - and a much-needed packaging event built for the region, by the region.
Whether you’re an innovator with a new solution to showcase or a professional seeking practical packaging answers, UKPackaging Expo 2025 is your must-attend event this September.
Find out more
The inaugural UKPackaging Expo will take place this September on Wednesday 3rd to Thursday 4th at Manchester Central.
For exhibition enquiries and visitor registration, visit www.ukpackagingexpo.co.uk