R Howard CARTON-PRO

Food packaging manufacturer, UK made

Folding cartons, sleeves, containers, pouches and paper cups for the food and drink sector, made and printed on one site in Peterborough. No minimum run, and typically two weeks from artwork to delivery.

What we make

Custom food packaging, UK made under one roof

We are a lithographic printer and carton manufacturer, not a broker. Design, print, cutting, gluing and finishing all happen on the same site, and it leaves on our own lorries.

For food and drink that means folding cartons, boxes, sleeves, containers and pouches, plus water based paper cups in 12oz and 16oz. Standard stock items or bespoke builds go through the same press, which is why there is no minimum and no maximum run length.

It also means one supplier to deal with. A bespoke design does not turn into a chain of outside converters, and the lead time stays at roughly two weeks from approved artwork to delivery.

Our specs

Food packaging boxes and cartons

FormatsFolding cartons, boxes, sleeves, containers, pouches and water based paper cups
PrintLithographic, up to seven colours plus a coater
FinishingEmbossing, die cutting, window patching, gluing, soft touch and foil blocking
Run lengthNo minimum and no maximum
Lead timeTypically two weeks from artwork to delivery
DeliveryOur own transport, UK, Ireland and Europe
CertificationBRCGS for Packaging Version 7 at Grade AA, Sedex members
On shelf

Standing out is the other half of the job

Food and drink is a crowded shelf. Getting listed is one thing. What the pack looks like decides whether anyone picks it up.

Embossing, foil blocking, soft touch, window patching and full die cutting are all finished in house, so the finish you specify is not the first thing to get value engineered out of the job.

Our water based paper cups are lined without polyethylene, so a used cup recycles with paper rather than going to landfill. More on the cups.

Certification

Audited, so your buyer does not have to ask twice

We hold BRCGS for Packaging at Version 7, Grade AA, the highest grade the standard awards. The audit covers hygiene, product safety and quality management. We are Sedex members, and certificates are issued each year, so the copy in your supplier file stays current.

Folding cartons running through the folder gluer line at the Carton-Pro factory in Peterborough

Printed, cut, glued
and delivered by us.

Common questions

Food packaging, answered

Is there a minimum order for food cartons?

No. There is no minimum and no maximum run length. A short bespoke run and a long production run go through the same press, so a trial batch is not treated differently from a standing order.

How long does a food carton order take?

Typically two weeks from approved artwork to delivery. We deliver on our own transport across the United Kingdom and Ireland, and into Europe.

Is your food packaging BRCGS certified?

Yes. We hold BRCGS for Packaging at Version 7, Grade AA, which is the highest grade the standard awards. The audit covers hygiene, product safety and quality management. We are also Sedex members, and certificates are issued each year.

Can you make a chocolate packaging box or tea packaging box?

Yes. Chocolate and tea boxes are folding cartons, which we print, cut and glue on a site certificated to BRCGS for Packaging Materials at Grade AA. Embossing, foil blocking and window patching are all done in house.

What should I look for in food packaging manufacturers?

Check the certification, what is done in house and the minimum order. We hold BRCGS for Packaging Materials at Grade AA, design, print, cut and glue on one site in Peterborough, and have no minimum and no maximum run length.

Talk to us about food packaging

Tell us the format, the quantity and the finish you have in mind. We will come back with a price, normally within one working day.