Specialty Box & Packaging Co.

What Specialty Box & Packaging Co. does

Specialty Box & Packaging Co. is a privately held, family-owned custom packaging manufacturer founded circa 1960 by Sam Fialkoff after acquiring a die-cutting machine in settlement of a poker debt. Headquartered in Albany, New York, the company designs and supplies custom boxes, bags, food packaging, and branded merchandise for foodservice operators, retailers, and consumer-products brands. Its core technical capabilities include precision color-matching and multi-color flexo/offset printing, specialized die-cutting for custom shapes, structural box engineering for durability and stackability, and the ability to flex between small-run seasonal/limited-edition runs and large-scale national production. The firm also operates a custom e-commerce ordering platform built for enterprise clients managing hundreds of store locations.

The company generates revenue through a quote-based, one-time purchase model in which each order is custom-specified by material, print, dimensions, and volume. Go-to-market is direct-to-business via phone, website contact forms, and case-study-driven content marketing, with distribution scaled through a claimed global manufacturing network and channel partnerships with Staples, Sysco Food Service, and Edward Don for foodservice reach. Customer segments span restaurants and food service (primary vertical), retail and apparel, and consumer products and gifts. Named enterprise customers include Cole Haan, Ruth's Chris Steak House, and Melting Pot, alongside long-tenured mid-market and SMB accounts such as Gideon's Bakehouse, Saratoga Olive Oil, Amanti Vino, and Happy Jack's.

The business has operated under continuous multi-generational family control — Sam to his son Leonard, then David Fialkoff, with Josh Fialkoff joining in 2018 — and today maintains sub-brands including CustomTakeOutBags and The Packaging Café. Revenue, headcount, and ownership details are not publicly disclosed, and the firm carries no external institutional capital or parent-company structure. The competitive position rests on 60+ years of brand heritage, long-term customer relationships, custom design flexibility, and access to a global manufacturing footprint rather than proprietary technology or AI-driven differentiation.

Name

Specialty Box & Packaging Co.

Legal name

Specialty Box and Packaging

Website

https://specialtybox.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Specialty Box & Packaging Co. is a family-owned custom packaging manufacturer founded circa 1960, designing and supplying boxes, bags, food packaging, and branded merchandise for foodservice operators, retailers, and consumer-products brands via a quote-based direct-to-business model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219), Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111), Packaging and Labeling Services (56191)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Paper Packaging (Gift Boxes, Luxury Cartons, Composite Paper Cans) (IMALACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Secondary & Multipack Packaging (IMALAHAB), Ready Meals & Prepared Foods Packaging (IMALAHAL), Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins) (IMAMAHAA), Packaging & Product Brand Design (BPAFAEAG)

Keywords

• Custom packaging solutions
• Branded retail boxes
• Foodservice packaging supplies
• Custom printed bags
• Specialty packaging manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Albany

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Packaging Products: Sale of custom-designed bags, boxes, and packaging solutions. Products include gable boxes, jewelry boxes, hinged boxes, apparel boxes, soft loop bags, die cut bags, rope handle bags, food containers, cups, wraps, and merch/apparel. Primarily one-time purchase model with custom production.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Specialty Box & Packaging Co. designs, manufactures, and supplies custom packaging products for businesses, including branded boxes, shopping and food-service bags, food packaging containers and wraps, and branded merchandise/apparel. The company combines custom printing, precision color-matching, die-cutting, and structural box engineering with full-service inventory management and a global manufacturing network to serve restaurants, retail brands, and consumer product companies.

Product overview

Specialty Box & Packaging Co. is a custom packaging company offering a comprehensive portfolio of packaging solutions and branded merchandise. Their product suite consists of four main categories: Boxes (including pizza boxes, cookie tins, fried chicken boxes, jewelry boxes, gift boxes, gable boxes, meal/bakery boxes, electronics boxes, and cake/pie boxes), Bags (including twisted handle bags, die-cut plastic bags, reusable shopping bags, insulated cooler bags, SOS bags, and eurotote bags), Food Packaging (including paper hot cups, clear plastic cups, paper food cones, and foodservice tissue/liners), and Merch & Apparel (including polo shirts). The company also provides custom printing, design services, inventory management, and operates a global manufacturing network to serve businesses worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CustomTakeOutBags: Online platform for custom takeout bags launched by the third generation of the Fialkoff family in 1993.
• The Packaging Café

Products and services

• Custom Boxes Custom-manufactured packaging boxes including pizza boxes, cookie and confection tins, fried chicken boxes, jewelry and keepsake boxes, gift boxes with inserts, gable boxes, meal and bakery boxes, consumer electronics boxes, and cake and pie boxes. Designed for businesses in foodservice, retail, electronics, and gift packaging with custom printing, color-matching, and structural engineering.
• Custom Bags Custom shopping and carry bags including twisted handle bags, die-cut plastic bags, reusable non-woven shopping bags, insulated cooler bags, SOS bags, and eurotote rope-handle bags. Used by restaurants, retail stores, events, and e-commerce businesses for branded takeout, retail shopping, and cold chain logistics.
• Food Packaging Foodservice packaging products including paper hot cups, clear plastic cups, paper food cones, and custom-printed foodservice tissue and liners. Supplied to quick-service restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and catering businesses for beverages, handheld foods, and tray/basket presentation.
• Branded Merch & Apparel Custom branded merchandise and apparel including polo shirts with custom embroidery or screen printing. Designed for restaurant uniforms, retail staff uniforms, corporate apparel, and promotional wear.
• Inventory Management & Fulfillment Service Full-service inventory management that stores, restocks, and ships custom packaging on a just-in-time basis so clients maintain supply without interruption. Includes global manufacturing and fulfillment for national and international clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Inventory managed and shipped when needed so clients never skip a beat
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered notable.

• StaplesnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Staples for restaurant packaging solutions. Specialty Box navigated challenging times in 2002 with renewed focus on growth, earning partnerships with industry giants including Staples.
• Sysco Food ServicenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Sysco Food Service for restaurant packaging distribution. Specialty Box's restaurant packaging solutions flourished earning partnerships with industry giants like Sysco.
• Edward DonnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Edward Don, a major foodservice equipment and supplies distributor. Specialty Box earned partnerships with industry giants including Edward Don for restaurant packaging.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PackagingBee: PackagingBee provides custom-printed packaging across multiple product types (boxes, mailers, bags) for small and mid-sized businesses. Comparable in custom manufacturing model with online quote-based sales targeting similar SMB and mid-market retail customers.
• Refine Packaging: Refine Packaging produces custom-printed boxes, mailers, and folding cartons for retail and e-commerce brands. Comparable product mix and custom design/printing service model targeting similar small and mid-sized brand customers.
• PakFactory: PakFactory is a custom packaging manufacturer offering custom-printed boxes, mailers, and retail packaging with design support. Directly comparable as a small-to-mid custom paperboard packaging provider serving similar D2C and retail customers with on-demand customization.
• The Custom Boxes: The Custom Boxes manufactures custom packaging across boxes, bags, and retail formats with printing and finishing services. Comparable in product breadth (boxes, bags, food packaging-adjacent) and direct-to-business custom sales model.
• Brand Packaging Group (formerly BrandPack): Brand Packaging Group offers custom retail packaging — boxes, bags, wraps, and accessories — with design and printing services for retail and foodservice brands. Comparable in product breadth (boxes, bags, food packaging) and custom-design-led value proposition for branded clients.
• Paper Mart: Paper Mart is a wholesale distributor of packaging supplies including boxes, bags, tissue, and food service containers. Comparable as a broad-line custom and stock packaging supplier serving retail and foodservice customers across multiple product categories.

Broad incumbents

• Imperial Dade: Imperial Dade is one of the largest foodservice and janitorial/sanitation distributors in North America, offering a broad portfolio of foodservice packaging. Comparable as a larger-scale foodservice packaging supplier with overlapping customer base (restaurants, hospitality), but operates across a far wider product range.
• Smurfit Kappa: Smurfit Kappa is a global paper-based packaging leader producing corrugated, folding cartons, and specialty paperboard packaging. Comparable in product categories (boxes, retail packaging, food/beverage packaging) but operates at vastly larger scale and global footprint.
• Pratt Industries: Pratt Industries is a major U.S. corrugated and recycled paperboard packaging manufacturer serving retail, foodservice, and industrial customers. Comparable as a corrugated/paperboard packaging incumbent with overlapping categories (boxes, foodservice), but at significantly greater scale and integration.

Emerging players

• EcoEnclose: EcoEnclose focuses on sustainable custom packaging — recycled and reusable mailers, boxes, and bags — for e-commerce and retail brands. Comparable in custom packaging delivery with an emphasis on branded, eco-conscious materials, though narrower in product breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/specialtybox
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/specialty-box
• Instagraminstagram.com/explore/locations/131593003582337/specialty-box-packaging-co

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 Specialty Box & Packaging Co.