CLOSE-KNIT
Planglow is a multi-award-winning labelling and packaging provider that launched in 1986, when programmer John Scott and salesman Phillip Saunders developed a revolutionary system for caterers to create and print their own labels. Founded as a family business, this ethos very much remains today.
We pride ourselves on our team, business relationships and robust working knowledge of the industries and areas our stakeholders operate within. Many customers have been with us for decades, some since the very beginning. When I visit them with an account manager, they are often greeted with hugs and exchanges about one another’s families.
I joined Planglow in 2005. The business was already very established; labelling was our core offering. We had started to receive customer feedback asking for cardboard packaging which complemented our labelling offer, so my first marketing project was to launch our first card cup and sandwich wedge as an alternative to the then ubiquitous clear plastic wedges.
Over the years, our range has expanded to accommodate changing consumer behaviour and trends. The biggest shift we’ve seen, dating back to the very beginning of Planglow, is the growth of hot grab-and-go. Initially fuelled by the boom in street food around 10 years ago, lockdown profoundly altered the way we approach meals. Today, with many workplaces continuing to operate hybrid and remote working, the lines are blurred between takeout and ‘grab-and-go.
AHEAD OF THE CURVE
The industry’s greatest catalyst for change, however, has been the environment, which is at the core of everything we do. The introduction of legislation has been the most impactful. The increasing number of people experiencing allergies led to the introduction of Natasha’s Law, altering the way foods are packaged, labelled and displayed. We updated our software, LabelLogic Live, well in advance of the regulatory updates. This ensured our customers had ample opportunity to achieve compliance ahead of the deadline.
Most recently, we’ve developed our new Back to Nature range – which includes recyclable and certified compostable products – in response to the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Simpler Recycling initiatives, and an industry-wide requirement for more environmentally minded products that support a circular economy. As our new flagship offering, it fulfills this on multiple levels, including enhanced quality and shelf life, offering a choice of disposal routes and priced 5% lower than our other ranges.
Back to Nature also helps us meet a primary ongoing objective: 90% of our packaging to be compostable or recyclable by 2027. We are proud to say that 81% is now certified home and/or industrially compostable or meets the OPRL standards for recyclability (up from 74% in 2024). We continue to expand this with a view to exceeding this target and many more, so watch this space. And while we may be 40, we’re only just getting started!