What Harrison Packaging does

Harrison Packaging (legal entity: John Harrison (Stockton) Limited) is a UK-based independent folding-carton manufacturer founded in 1882 and headquartered at an 80,000 sq ft facility in Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside. The company produces offset-lithographic printed folding cartons for UK brand owners across food and beverage (Taylors of Harrogate, AU Vodka, Steel River Drinks, Yorkshire Speciality Foods supplying Waitrose and Booths), beauty and healthcare (Portmeirion Wax Lyrical, Pro Care), household and petcare, pharmaceutical (PS9000-accredited), and industrial/automotive sectors. Its core manufacturing platform is anchored by a Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106X 8-colour press with twin coaters (first in the UK and Ireland, installed 2022) producing up to 20,000 sheets/hour, a Koenig & Bauer Duran Omega Allpro hybrid folder gluer handling both solid board and micro flute corrugated, computer-to-plate systems, Zund CAD sampling, and Kodak Process Free Plates.

The business operates a custom-quote B2B model with no public pricing, multi-year customer relationships, and an enterprise field-sales go-to-market led by a Sales Director with 35+ years of industry experience and regional Business Development Managers. Pricing is built around one-time project sales varying by substrate, print complexity, finishing (foil blocking, embossing, Spot UV, tactile coatings), run length, and lead time. Certifications (ISO 9001, BRC A-rated, PS9000, FSC Chain of Custody) underpin eligibility for direct food contact and pharmaceutical packaging. Sustainability is integrated operationally — FSC board, eco-inks, on-site recycling, Voltage Optimiser (14% electricity saving), and LED lighting together eliminate ~51,000 kg of CO2 per year — and is positioned as a commercial differentiator.

Ownership transitioned out of the Harrison family in 2021 when Managing Director Craig Turnbull acquired the business, triggering a capital investment programme in technology and workforce development anchored by a partnership with NC Group for engineering and leadership training, plus an active BPIF apprenticeship pipeline. The company serves exclusively UK customers, has no disclosed digital/API product surface, and has stated (but not yet shipped) plans to incorporate AI into artwork versioning and production planning.

Name

Harrison Packaging

Legal name

John Harrison (Stockton) Limited

Website

https://harrisonpack.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1882

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Harrison Packaging is a UK independent folding-carton manufacturer (founded 1882, Stockton-on-Tees) producing offset-lithographic printed cartons for UK enterprise brands across food and beverage, beauty, healthcare, household, pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors, anchored by a £4m+ Koenig & Bauer press investment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Printed Folding Carton Packaging

NAICS

Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing (322212), Printing and Related Support Activities (323), Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Papers & Allied Products (2600)

akta.pro primary industry

Folding Carton & Paperboard Packaging Printing (IMALAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Folding Cartons & Paperboard Packaging Converting (IMAMAHAB), Folding Cartons (Folding Boxboard, SBS/SUS) (IMALACAB)

Keywords

• Printed carton packaging
• Folding cartons
• Offset lithographic printing
• Sustainable packaging manufacturing
• Premium carton converting

Headquarters

HQ city

Thornaby

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Printed Carton Packaging: Manufacturing and selling custom printed carton packaging solutions. One-time product sales based on customer specifications for various sectors including food, beverage, pharmaceutical, household, beauty, and industrial applications.
2. Sustainable Packaging Solutions: Premium sustainable carton board packaging with value-added finishes including foil blocking, embossing, debossing, tactile coatings, Spot UV, and specialty structural design services.
3. Design and Prototyping Services: Structural design service, design studio capabilities, and CAD sample production for packaging concepts and prototypes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Harrison Packaging manufactures high-quality offset lithographic printed folding cartons for UK brands across food, beverage, confectionery, beauty, healthcare, household, pharmaceutical and industrial sectors. The offering spans structural design, computer-to-plate production, advanced colour management with exact Pantone matching, and finishing options including foil blocking, embossing, debossing, Spot UV and tactile coatings. Production is anchored by a first-of-its-kind-in-UK Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106X 8-colour press with twin coaters and a hybrid Duran Omega Allpro folder gluer that handles both solid carton board and micro flute corrugated substrates.

Product overview

Harrison Packaging is a single-product company offering one core offering: printed folding carton packaging manufactured via offset lithography. The portfolio spans multiple market sectors — food, beverage, confectionery, beauty, healthcare, household, pharmaceutical, and industrial automotive — served through a unified service model built around structural design, advanced print technology, and finishing. Core production is anchored by a Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106X press (8 colours, twin coaters, single-pass coating) and a Koenig & Bauer Duran Omega Allpro folder gluer (handling both solid board and micro flute corrugated). Sustainability is embedded across the offering through FSC-certified board, eco-friendly inks, Kodak Process Free Plates, in-house recycling, and a Voltage Optimiser for energy reduction. Smaller production runs, rapid turnaround, and design-for-manufacturing services differentiate the offering from volume-focused competitors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Printed Carton Packaging Solutions Harrison Packaging's core offering: high-quality lithographic printed folding cartons for UK brands across food, beverage, confectionery, beauty, healthcare, household, pharmaceutical and industrial sectors. Includes structural design, computer-to-plate production, advanced colour management with exact Pantone matching, and finishing capabilities such as foil blocking, embossing, debossing, Spot UV and tactile coatings. The offering is built for speed, cost-efficiency and sustainability, using FSC-certified board, eco-friendly inks and recyclable materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14% electricity usage reduction through Voltage Optimiser
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• NC Group LtdmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 November 2024Workforce development partnership delivering tailored training programmes including Leadership Skills Bootcamp (16 weeks, 60 hours, 13 participants), Level 3 Engineering Technologies Diploma, and Level 4 Engineering Manufacturing Technician HNC apprenticeship. NC Group won Small Business of the Year 2024 at North East Business Awards.
• Koenig & BauercoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Landmark technology partnership for Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106X 8-colour printing press (first in UK and Ireland) and Koenig & Bauer Duran Omega Allpro hybrid folder gluer. Total investment exceeding £4m. The press enables 8 colours with twin coatings in a single pass at 20,000 sheets/hour. The folder gluer handles both solid carton board and micro flute corrugated - a unique hybrid capability.
• BPIF TrainingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2014Longstanding apprenticeship and training partnership delivering print-specific programmes. Multiple apprentices have completed Level 3 Print Technician apprenticeships through BPIF Training, progressing to skilled operator roles including Lead Operator and Number 2 Printer positions.
• Duran (Koenig & Bauer Group)majorTechnology or IntegrationFolder gluer manufacturer within Koenig & Bauer Group. Delivered custom hybrid folder gluer solution (Omega Allpro 110-based) with modified features for handling micro flute corrugated in addition to standard solid carton board. Unique capability development for Harrison Packaging's diverse product offering.
• Yorkshire Speciality FoodsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium food brand customer supplying Waitrose and Booths. Harrison Packaging is sole carton packaging supplier for Old Hardisty range. Partnership includes seamless supplier transition, ongoing design collaboration for premium retail packaging, and participation in food shows and direct-to-consumer channels.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pollard Boxes: UK-based folding carton and printed packaging manufacturer serving branded customers across food, beverage, and household — directly comparable as a UK independent carton converter competing for similar premium print work.
• Cotswold Cartons: UK independent folding carton converter serving similar premium branded customers across food, beverage, and consumer goods; comparable in scale and business model to Harrison Packaging as a domestic specialist folding carton manufacturer.

Broad incumbents

• Mondi Group: Integrated paper and packaging group producing containerboard, kraft paper, and converted packaging including folding cartons — competes in the UK with vertically integrated paperboard supply and converting capability.
• Graphic Packaging International: Global folding carton and paperboard packaging major with broad product portfolio; serves many of the same FMCG and beverage customers as Harrison, providing a benchmark for premium printed carton capability at scale.
• Smurfit Westrock: Global paper-based packaging giant combining Smurfit Kappa and WestRock; operates across corrugated, folding cartons, and consumer packaging with UK and European converting plants, making it a broad incumbent comparable on customer relationships and technology scale.
• Mayr-Melnhof Karton: European folding carton and recycled folding boxboard major; directly competes in folding cartons across the UK and EU with far larger scale, representing the global benchmark player in Harrison's core product category.
• Stora Enso: Major European paperboard and renewable packaging producer supplying folding boxboard to converters and operating consumer board converting capacity; upstream and downstream overlap with Harrison's substrate choice and customer base.
• DS Smith: UK-headquartered global packaging group focused on corrugated and recycled paper; competes for adjacent packaging spend from the same UK retailers and FMCG customers that Harrison supplies.
• Saica Group: European paper and packaging manufacturer with UK converting operations producing corrugated and folding carton packaging; comparable as a sustainability-positioned paper-based packaging incumbent in Harrison's geography.

Others

• Westrock Coffee Company: Listed for adjacency only — a specialty coffee and beverage supplier rather than a converter. Relevant only because it represents a brand-side customer archetype (premium beverage) Harrison supplies, not a packaging competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harrison-packaging

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 Harrison Packaging