How should operators approach FTG packaging?

They need to think beyond packaging as a simple commodity and instead view it as a strategic part of a product offering and operational efficiency. Speed of service, shelf appeal, protection and ease of use all directly influence customer experience and repeat purchase.

At the same time, operators are managing increasingly complex ranges, tighter margins and evolving legislation. Packaging therefore needs to support not only performance and compliance, but flexibility across menus and formats, without creating unnecessary supply chain burden.

This is where a more consultative approach becomes important, ensuring packaging is selected based on real operational requirements, rather than just specification or price alone.

It’s a hugely competitive market – how does your business achieve cut-through?

Through a combination of product quality, supply chain strength and a genuinely consultative approach with customers, to understand operational needs and deliver the most effective packaging solution – with performance, legislation and end-use application all taken into account. This is particularly important for large customers that often require bespoke and tailored solutions rather than standard off-the-shelf products.

We have also invested in our own manufacturing capability, including folded box board production, while continuing to expand our board-based packaging range to offer a more comprehensive and integrated portfolio.

From a supply chain perspective, we support customers through a robust UK distribution operation with over 24,000 pallet spaces, ensuring strong availability and service levels. In Ireland, we also operate dedicated distribution capabilities. And via Go-Pak International in Vietnam, we provide direct container supply of mixed product anywhere in the world. This is valuable for multi-site global operators who require consistency, flexibility and efficiency. 

Is changing legislation around environmental expectations making things difficult? 

It is fair to say that the pace and complexity of regulatory change presents a real challenge.

The intent is clear but the practical application – particularly around materials, reporting requirements and evolving EPR frameworks – can be difficult to navigate consistently across multiple sites and regions.

As a result, operators are not just looking for compliant packaging but also for guidance and clarity. This is where suppliers need to play a more consultative role, helping customers interpret legislation and select packaging that meets both operational and regulatory requirements, without adding unnecessary complexity.

If you were in government, what would you do to make things easier?

I would focus on three key areas: clarity, consistency and practicality.

Clear, stable guidance would allow businesses to plan and invest with confidence, rather than constantly reacting to shifting interpretations. Greater consistency across materials standards and reporting requirements would also significantly reduce complexity for national and multi-site operators.

Most importantly, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) needs to be simplified and made workable in practice. While the intent behind recent legislative changes is understandable, the pace and complexity of implementation has placed considerable pressure on the industry, and in many cases the practical implications have not been fully considered.

Foodservice businesses operate in fast-moving, high-pressure environments where cost, hygiene and speed of service are critical. Any legislation must therefore be designed to work at scale in the real world, without creating unintended inefficiencies, administrative burden or disruption to supply chains.

What can we look forward to from Go-Pak?

Continuing to expand our portfolio, particularly within folded box board. We are also strengthening our bespoke and customer-specific development capability, particularly for large operators who require tailored solutions aligned to their brand, operational model and compliance requirements.

Alongside this, we remain focused on enhancing our supply chain infrastructure to support growth. This includes our UK distribution centre with over 24,000 pallet spaces, our dedicated Irish distribution capability, and continued development of our Vietnam-based consolidation business to support global customers.

The packaging industry is evolving rapidly, and success is no longer just about having a broad product range. It is about how well you understand your customers’ operations and how effectively you can support them.

At Go-Pak, we differentiate through a combination of excellent quality, a strong and resilient supply chain and consultative approach that puts customer needs at the centre of everything we do.

Whether it is bespoke development for large operators, expanded board capability through our own manufacturing investment or global consolidation through Go-Pak International in Vietnam, our focus is on delivering packaging solutions that are practical, compliant and operationally effective across every market we serve.