Celebrating 25 years

AFTER A fantastic 2025, the year ahead will build on the BCMPA’s continued development and growth with a strong focus on supporting members and advancing the industry. As the trade association for UK contract manufacturing, packing and fulfilment businesses, our 2026 calendar is rich with new initiatives, events and opportunities.

Building on 25 years of growth

Marking a quarter of a century as the trusted voice of the UK outsourcing sector was an important milestone for the Association, providing an opportunity not only to reflect on how far the industry has come but also to celebrate the achievements of our members in driving growth, innovation and resilience across supply chains.

To mark the anniversary, we launched the novel and exciting #outsourcingis campaign, showcasing the vital role outsourcing plays in helping brands, retailers and startups bring products to market. Outsourcing is more than providing services or facilities; it empowers businesses to focus on their core strengths while leveraging expert third-party expertise across manufacturing, packing, supply chain management, regulatory compliance, fulfilment and logistics.

As part of the campaign, we created a series of videos featuring members at industry events sharing their perspectives on what outsourcing means to them. These insights highlighted the expertise, innovation and value BCMPA members deliver, as well as a wealth of different services; demonstrating how outsourcing enables brands, retailers and entrepreneurs to save time, reduce costs, scale efficiently and accelerate speed to market.

That momentum now carries forward into 2026. This is not simply another year on the calendar but the start of a new chapter, one to build on a strong legacy and set the agenda for the next 25 years of contract manufacturing, packing, fulfilment and logistics.

The BCMPA Conference 2026

At the heart of this year’s programme is the BCMPA Conference, which will take place from 31st March – 1st April at the Oxford Belfry. Events are integral to bringing the industry together and our 2026 edition will be interactive and future-focused with an authoritative line-up of speakers.

Delegates will encounter an agenda shaped around resilience, sustainability, digital transformation and how added-value services respond to the ever-changing demands from customers. As well as looking at some of the key challenges from AI to cyber security, the conference will include panel discussions, with leading brands sharing their thoughts on the future shape of the industry.

Contract Pack & Fulfilment at Packaging Innovations

Another significant highlight of the year will be The Contract Pack and Fulfilment Show, co-located with Packaging Innovations and Empack at the NEC Birmingham on 11th – 12th February 2026. This annual event has become one of the most effective platforms for members to engage with existing and potential customers as well as showcase the full breadth of services available across our industry.

Visitors will once again find the BCMPA in the Contract Pack & Fulfilment Zone of the show with a dedicated BCMPA Hospitality stand, which has established itself as a welcoming space for introductions, discussions and networking. Surrounding the Lounge will be over 20 exhibiting members, a diverse group representing contract manufacturing, co-packing, fulfilment and logistics across a wide range of industry sectors from food, drink, nutraceuticals, personal care and beauty, fulfilment and household. Their presence demonstrates both the strength and the diversity of expertise within the Association, while the show itself continues to grow in stature as a hub where brands and retailers can discover new partners and opportunities.

Adding an entrepreneurial edge to this year’s show, our ‘Pitch to the Co-Packers’ competition will culminate with the presentation of the award to the winning start-up, chosen by a panel of industry experts from pitches made ahead of the event. Inspired by Peter Jones’ advice featured on The BBC’s Dragon’s Den, encouraging brands to collaborate with co-packers in today’s fast-paced market, the competition highlights the growing importance of outsourcing under the pressure of short product lifecycles and accelerating time to market.

This exciting contest will provide a platform for fresh talent and innovative solutions while demonstrating the sector’s commitment to creativity and growth. With outsourcing now central to competitiveness, this new initiative is focused on showing how BCMPA members use their expertise to support brands and start-ups and how using third parties allows business owners to focus on scaling up and their own growth plans rather than day-to-day operational challenges. The winner will receive a consultation with a BCMPA co-packing member, with judges to be confirmed, and the announcement will take place at the Contract Pack and Fulfilment show.

New website

Complementing our live events will be the redesign of our website, which has been created to provide a proactive search facility for brands and retailers looking for third party providers. More than a first point of contact, the redesigned site will provide significant value and a better user experience with more content for visitors to be able to use for their own learning and projects.

Celebrating excellence through awards

While knowledge sharing and industry visibility are essential, recognition plays an equally vital role. In 2025, we were proud to sponsor three major award initiatives that shone a spotlight on outstanding achievement by third party outsourcing partners.

The Women in Packaging Awards, now in its second year, will once again celebrate the accomplishments of female leaders, innovators, and rising stars across packaging and fulfilment sector. The BCMPA is delighted to continue sponsoring the Co-Packing Leader Award. With diversity and inclusion central to the sector’s future, this event offers a vital platform to acknowledge individual excellence and inspire the next generation to pursue rewarding careers within the industry.

The BCMPA has long supported the UK Packaging Awards. These well-established awards provide an opportunity for the industry to come together and recognise the innovation and problem solving that is such a vital part of the Packaging community. As in previous years, the BCMPA will sponsor two: the Co-Manufacturer & Packer of the Year Award as well as the new category of E-Commerce & Fulfilment Company of the Year Award. These performance awards reward the entrepreneurial spirit of the market and celebrate innovation as well as sound investment decisions. The winners need to impress a rigorous panel of judges with an extensive background in business and the packaging supply chain.

Why 2026 matters

Taken together, these initiatives highlight why 2026 is such a pivotal year for the BCMPA. The challenges of recent years, from global supply chain disruptions to rising costs and sustainability pressures, have reshaped the way brands approach outsourcing. By offering industry-leading events, a stronger digital presence and high-profile recognition platforms, we are ensuring that our members remain at the forefront of delivering value, resilience and innovation.

Outsourcing today is not simply about efficiency; it is about enabling growth, driving customer-centric solutions and building more sustainable and adaptable supply chains. The BCMPA’s plans for 2026 underline our belief that outsourcing is central to achieving those objectives.