What The Kennedy Group does

The Kennedy Group Ohio LLC is a U.S. specialty label converter founded in 1974 and headquartered at 38601 Kennedy Parkway, Willoughby, Ohio. The company designs and manufactures custom label and material-handling identification products, including pressure-sensitive labels, roll-fed labels (with ClearWrap™ film for 360° coverage), identification nameplates, warehouse location tags, sequentially numbered barcode labels, and a proprietary family of RFID tags and solutions (Smart Placard®, Smart Nameplate®, SmartCard™, SmartAsset, SmartTherm™, RFID Buddy). Production is built on a combination of flexographic, digital, and inkjet variable print technologies, supplemented by TruIMAGE™ prepress using Bellissima DMS screening for photo-realistic flexography and Smart ReLabeling placards using Hold & Release® Technology.

The company's primary served verticals are industrial and food & beverage, with secondary exposure to AG-Chem / lawn & garden, automotive, personal & home care, and retail / retail distribution. It sells through direct phone sales, a toll-free line, and the Inovar Packaging Group e-commerce portal, and it supports all major labeling systems (Quadrel, LabelAire, Krones, B&H, Trine) under multi-year contractual relationships with Net 30 terms and quote-based, customized pricing. The Kennedy Group joined Inovar Packaging Group as a wholly-owned subsidiary in 2021 and operates as 'The Kennedy Group, an Inovar company,' with Doug Wildes serving as VP/General Manager.

Name

The Kennedy Group

Legal name

The Kennedy Group Ohio LLC

Website

https://kennedygrp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Kennedy Group is a U.S. specialty label converter, founded 1974 in Willoughby, Ohio, that designs and manufactures custom pressure-sensitive, roll-fed, barcode, and RFID labels and placards for industrial, food and beverage, automotive, AG-Chem, personal care, and retail customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Labeling & Packaging Solutions

NAICS

Printing and Related Support Activities (3231), Packaging and Labeling Services (561910)

SIC

Papers & Allied Products (2600)

akta.pro primary industry

Pressure-Sensitive Labels (PSL) (IMALAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty & Functional Labels (Linerless, RFID/NFC, Braille, Smart) (IMALAKAK)

Keywords

• Labeling solutions
• Pressure-sensitive labels
• RFID tracking tags
• Warehouse identification
• Packaging materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Willoughby

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Label Products Sales: The Kennedy Group generates revenue through the sale of custom label products including pressure-sensitive labels, roll-fed labels, placard labels, warehouse location tags, RFID tags, and identification nameplates. Products are customized to customer specifications with various material options and printing technologies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Kennedy Group manufactures and sells custom labeling and material handling identification solutions, including pressure-sensitive labels, roll-fed labels, warehouse location tags, sequentially numbered barcode labels, identification nameplates, RFID tags and systems, and seed bag tags. Products are produced via flexographic, digital, and inkjet variable printing for industries such as automotive, food and beverage, industrial, retail, AG-Chem/lawn & garden, and personal & home care.

Product overview

The Kennedy Group is a labeling solutions provider and part of Inovar Packaging Group, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products organized into core labeling categories and specialized solutions. The main product lines include Pressure-Sensitive Labels (with sub-brands Aqua Clear™, ImagePLUS™, and Inovar360™), Roll-Fed Labels (featuring ClearWrap™ film), Identification Nameplates, Warehouse Location Tags, Sequentially Numbered Barcode Labels, RFID Tags and Solutions (including SmartAsset, SmartTherm, SmartCard, Smart Nameplate, and Smart Placard product families), Seed Bag Tags, and Sustainable/Recyclable Labels. Additionally, they offer the Smart ReLabeling Placard Solution with Essential, Performance, and Rack variants designed for reusable packaging environments. These products serve industries including automotive, food and beverage, industrial, retail, AG-Chem/Lawn & Garden, and Personal & Home Care markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aqua Clear™ Labels: Transparent pressure-sensitive labels designed for contoured and squeezable containers, allowing products to be showcased effectively.
• ImagePLUS™ Labels
• Inovar360™
• ClearWrap™
• TruIMAGE™
• Smart Placard®
• Smart Nameplate®
• SmartCard™ Slider
• SmartTherm™ Tags
• SmartAsset Tags

Products and services

• Pressure-Sensitive Labels Versatile pressure-activated adhesive labels suitable for a wide range of surfaces including glass, plastic, and metal, available in multiple shapes, sizes, and materials, including sub-brands Aqua Clear™, ImagePLUS™, and Inovar360™. Used by product manufacturers in food & beverage, personal/home care, and industrial applications.
• Roll-Fed Labels Roll-fed labels offering full-color, 360-degree coverage for unique container contours including roll-on, shrink-on (ROSO), and ClearWrap™ film options to maximize packaging marketing space and shelf appeal for consumer goods brands.
• Placard Labels & Material Handling Solutions Placards and material handling labels for warehouse and industrial identification, including the Smart ReLabeling Placard Solution with Essential, Performance, and Rack variants, supporting quick relabeling and reducing errors in high-volume logistics and reusable packaging environments.
• Warehouse Location Tags High-visibility tags for permanent identification of racks, shelving units, aisles, slots, zones, and staging lanes in warehousing operations, preventing mis-shipments and ensuring accurate inventory counts.
• Sequentially Numbered Barcode Labels Barcode labels engineered to withstand severe conditions including abrasion, dampness, chemicals, solvents, and temperature variations, with customizable variable, sequential, and random data for high-volume product tracking.
• RFID Tags & RFID Solutions Custom RFID solutions portfolio including Smart Placard® (with Hold & Release® Technology), Smart Nameplate®, SmartCard™ Slider/Tag, SmartTherm™ Tags, SmartAsset Tags, and RFID Buddy Tags, providing supply chain tracking from warehouse to retail and enabling faster, more accurate physical inventory operations than manual barcode systems.
• Sustainable and Recyclable Labels Eco-friendly label solutions using recyclable materials (BOPP, paper, polyester), environmentally friendly inks, and reduced-waste designs including thinner liners and efficient roll designs, delivered via the Inovar360™ APR-recognized portfolio to support customer sustainability goals.
• Identification Nameplates High-quality ID nameplates for material handling needs, available in durable premium, all-purpose, industrial, and standard variants for different environmental conditions, including RFID-enabled Smart Nameplate® for permanent asset identification.
• Seed Bag Tags Functional and durable seed bag tags conveying seed variety, traits, treatments, lot numbers, analysis panels, and active ingredient charts, including booklet labels (2-3 ply resealable, 3.5 x 9.5") and 10-Point Bag Tags carrying full regulatory information for the AG-Chem/lawn & garden market.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eliminates time-consuming label scraping
• +5 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Inovar Packaging GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Kennedy Group is a subsidiary (an Inovar company) of Inovar Packaging Group. This partnership provides access to advanced technologies, collaborative innovation with industry leaders, shared commitment to innovation and sustainability, and cross-selling opportunities through Inovar's broader product portfolio including flexible packaging solutions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WS Packaging Group: Pressure-sensitive label converter serving consumer goods, food & beverage, and industrial customers — directly comparable in product offering and custom converter model.
• Resource Label Group: PE-backed specialty pressure-sensitive label converter serving CPG, food & beverage, automotive, and industrial customers — directly comparable in product mix, verticals served, and custom short-to-mid-run operating model.
• Hammer Packaging: Specialty printer and label manufacturer producing pressure-sensitive labels, shrink sleeves, and folding cartons for CPG customers — overlapping product capabilities in PSL and roll-fed labels.
• Fortis Solutions Group: Specialty label and flexible packaging manufacturer serving healthcare, food & beverage, and industrial markets with pressure-sensitive and specialty labels — comparable customer verticals and custom converter model.
• Brady Corporation: Brady is a direct peer in industrial identification, durable labels, and RFID solutions serving manufacturing, warehousing, and safety-compliance customers — overlapping heavily with Kennedy Group's industrial vertical and Smart Nameplate®/Smart Placard® portfolios.
• Inland Label: Mid-market pressure-sensitive label converter specializing in cut-and-stack, roll-fed, and specialty labels for consumer products — directly comparable in product format and customer mix.
• Schreiner Group: Specialty label manufacturer with strong RFID/NFC and functional label capabilities serving automotive, retail, and industrial customers — directly comparable in proprietary RFID label innovation.

Broad incumbents

• Multi-Color Corporation: Large global label converter serving premier CPG brands across pressure-sensitive, shrink-sleeve, and in-mold labels — broader scale and geographic reach than Kennedy Group, but overlapping core PSL capability.
• Avery Dennison: Global leader in pressure-sensitive label materials and RFID inlays/tags; competes broadly with Kennedy Group across PSL labelstock, RFID tags, and durable identification labels but at vastly larger scale.
• CCL Industries: World's largest specialty label company with leadership in pressure-sensitive, shrink-sleeve, and healthcare labels — a broad incumbent whose Healthcare and CCL Design divisions overlap with Kennedy Group's PSL and durable label offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KennedyGroupCLE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/kennedygrpnews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-kennedy-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/kennedygroupcle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Kennedy Group