Outsourcing for growth

Emma Verkaik highlights the strategic advantages of 3PL partners and the BCMPA’s role in showcasing those services

The growing reliance on third-party partners for brands and retailers in FMCG has become a defining trend in recent years. As brands navigate a complex landscape of rising costs and regulatory challenges, outsourcing has emerged as a vital solution. At the BCMPA’s recent conference, guest speakers from Tesco, Nestlé, and Danone echoed this sentiment, emphasising how these partnerships will continue to grow in importance.

Outsourcing offers brands a strategic advantage, allowing them to focus on core competencies while alleviating operational burdens. The BCMPA champions this message, promoting our members across multiple sectors, including food, drink, personal care, and automotive. We raise awareness of the critical services our members provide and help brands identify the right outsourcing partners for their needs.

Partnerships are key

Historically, outsourcing has been viewed as a transactional relationship, but this dynamic is changing. Contract manufacturers and packers are now integral partners, contributing to brands’ ability to meet consumer demands and Environmental, Social, and Governance goals. With an increased emphasis on sustainable practices, digitalisation, and transparency, it is essential third-party suppliers are fully integrated into the production process.

The BCMPA supports members by providing resources and content around these topics. This is especially important for small and medium-sized companies that may not have the internal capacity to stay on top of the everchanging trends in sustainable packaging, accreditation, automation, digitalisation and more. Our programme of webinars offers valuable guidance on these and other issues. 

Raising the profile of BCMPA members

One of the BCMPA’s primary roles is to connect companies with suitable outsourcing partners. Our website’s comprehensive search facility allows brands to find members that match their requirements. We often hear from potential clients who wish they had discovered the BCMPA’s resources earlier in their journey.

In addition to our online tools, we actively promote our members through trade shows and exhibitions, including major events like White Label Expo, IFE Manufacturing, CHEMUK and London Packaging Week. These exhibitions offer our members an invaluable platform to showcase their services to the FMCG sector and beyond.

Showcasing success in contract packing

A standout feature of our annual calendar is The Contract Pack & Fulfilment Zone at the Easyfairs Packaging Innovations and Empack show, held every February at the NEC in Birmingham. This exhibition, the only one of its kind in the UK, attracts around 7,000 visitors and serves as a prime opportunity for over 20 BCMPA members to exhibit and demonstrate their capabilities to brands and retailers.

Visitors can explore tailored outsourcing solutions, from additional packing capacity to full-service fulfilment and logistics, while our Gala Dinner, which takes place alongside the exhibition, offers a chance for members to network and share insights.

The value of collaboration

Our recent conference underlined the importance of face-to-face interaction in fostering collaboration and innovation. By bringing members together, we enable them to share best practices, stay informed about legislative changes, and overcome the challenges of running their operations. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the event for its thought-provoking content and the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals.

In addition, the BCMPA sponsored Co Manufacturer & Packer of the Year Award at the prestigious UK Packaging Awards, recognises and celebrates the success of our industry in supporting brands and retailers in getting their products to market.

As we look to the future, the BCMPA remains committed to supporting members and promoting the value of outsourcing to the FMCG sector. By facilitating partnerships between brands and contract manufacturers, we help ensure that businesses of all sizes can thrive in today’s competitive world.

Emma Verkaik is the CEO of BCMPA – The Association for Contract Manufacturing, Packing, Fulfilment & Logistics