What Garthwest Creative does

Garthwest Creative (legal entity: Garthwest Limited) is a UK-based, family-owned manufacturer of bespoke corrugated cardboard packaging and point-of-sale (POS) display solutions, founded in 1964 and headquartered at a single manufacturing facility in Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire. The company serves brands, retailers, and procurement teams across the UK with custom-designed products including conventional transit packaging, peel-and-seal e-commerce boxes, custom die-cut boxes, shelf-ready packaging (SRP), cardboard produce trays with ventilation, and a comprehensive POS display range spanning Free Standing Display Units (FSDUs), Counter Display Units (CDUs), exhibition standees, pallet display bins, and sector-specific displays for food & beverage, pet care, sports, and home entertainment. Underlying technology is conventional corrugated manufacturing using single wall and double wall board combinations across multiple flute profiles (microflute, enhanced fluting), combined with in-house CAD structural design, digital printing, die-cutting, and 3D prototyping/mocking-up capabilities. The business is led by Joint Managing Directors Lindsay West and Raffan West, with Angus West as Commercial Director, and is differentiated by 60+ years of family-run manufacturing expertise and a certification stack including ISO 9001:2015, BRC Packaging Standard, FSC Chain of Custody, and SEDEX B membership.

Garthwest operates a project-based, quote-driven business model with no published price list, where every order is bespoke and manufactured to customer specifications. Revenue is generated through one-time manufacturing orders for custom packaging and POS displays, plus a UK distribution arrangement for Italian TECO automatic tray former equipment. Pricing is determined per project based on materials (Kraft/Testliner grades), board strength, flute profile, print complexity, order quantity, and FSC certification requirements. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, combining inbound quote requests via the company website and phone (01482 825121) with content marketing through a blog, detailed case studies, and LinkedIn/Facebook presence. Customer segmentation is vertical, with primary use cases in E-Commerce & Subscription Boxes, Retail & FMCG, and POS Marketing, and secondary reach into Food & Drink, Health & Beauty, Pharmaceuticals, Electronics & Automotive, DIY/Home & Garden, Chemicals & Building Materials, and Education & Publishing. Named enterprise customers include Costa Coffee, Reckitt, Arco, UniBond, Wren, Where's Wally? (franchise), and UCA, alongside mid-market customers such as Fatherson Bakery, Nuzest, and USN.

The company's strategic positioning rests on vertical integration into sustainable raw material supply (via partial ownership of its main corrugated supplier, which operates a first-in-Europe anaerobic digester), a £150,000 solar investment at its Hull site, and 100% on-site recycling of production waste. Additional initiatives include the Platform program, launched by Joint MD Lindsay West, which has supported creation of over 100 regional jobs through incubation of creative tech startups. All operations are concentrated at the Hull headquarters, with no disclosed international footprint, no external funding rounds, and no parent company — Garthwest remains an independent, family-controlled business operating across multiple generations.

Name

Garthwest Creative

Legal name

Garthwest Limited

Website

https://garthwest.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Garthwest Creative is a family-owned UK manufacturer of bespoke corrugated cardboard packaging and point-of-sale displays, founded in 1964 and based in Kingston upon Hull. It serves enterprise and mid-market brands across retail, FMCG, e-commerce, food and beverage, and education with custom transit packaging, shelf-ready packs, and POS units.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Corrugated Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650)

akta.pro primary industry

Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins) (IMAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corrugated Packaging (Boxes, Sheets, Pads) (IMALACAA), Corrugated Protective Inserts & Partitions (Die-Cut Inserts, Dividers) (IMALAFAD), Finishing, Converting & Die-Cutting Services (IMALAKAN), Recycled Corrugated Products (Boxes, Sheets) (IMAMAKAH)

Keywords

• Custom corrugated packaging
• Point of sale displays
• Shelf ready packaging
• Cardboard packaging manufacturer
• Bespoke packaging design

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston upon Hull

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bespoke Corrugated Packaging Manufacturing: Custom-designed and manufactured corrugated cardboard packaging sold as one-time products tailored to specific customer requirements. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific.
2. Custom POS Display Manufacturing: Bespoke point-of-sale display units manufactured to customer specifications for retail environments, including FSDUs, CDUs, standees, and pallet displays.
3. Peel and Seal Postal Boxes: Self-seal e-commerce packaging boxes with pre-applied adhesive strips, flat-packed delivery, and optional branding/print.
4. Sustainable Packaging Solutions: Eco-friendly packaging using FSC-certified materials, recycled content, and responsibly sourced cardboard with various certification options (FSC 100%, FSC Mix, FSC Recycled).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Garthwest designs and manufactures bespoke corrugated cardboard packaging (conventional shipping boxes, peel-and-seal postal boxes, custom die-cut boxes, shelf-ready packaging, and produce trays) and custom cardboard point-of-sale displays (FSDUs, CDUs, standees, pallet display bins, sector-specific POS units). All products are made-to-order at the company's Hull facility using in-house CAD design, digital printing, die-cutting, and prototyping capabilities, with FSC-certified sustainable materials available.

Product overview

Garthwest Creative is a UK-based manufacturer of bespoke corrugated cardboard packaging and point-of-sale (POS) display solutions. The product portfolio centers on conventional cardboard packaging, die-cut solutions, peel-and-seal e-commerce boxes, and shelf-ready packaging (SRP), complemented by a comprehensive range of POS display products including Free Standing Display Units (FSDUs), Counter Display Units (CDUs), exhibition standees, and pallet display bins across various retail sectors. The company also offers design and innovation services covering concept design, prototyping, artwork design, and board grade selection. Products are manufactured in-house at their East Yorkshire facility with a focus on sustainability using recyclable materials and FSC-certified options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conventional Cardboard Packaging Bespoke corrugated cardboard transit and shipping packaging engineered to customer dimensions for product protection across FMCG, retail, and e-commerce applications.
• Peel and Seal Boxes Self-seal e-commerce postal boxes with pre-applied adhesive strips in a FEFCO 0427 pizza-box fold for quick, tape-free sealing, with optional tear-open tamper-evident strips.
• Custom Die Cut Boxes Bespoke die-cut corrugated packaging with unique shapes and structural designs tailored to specific product dimensions and brand requirements, manufactured using CAD design and die-cutting.
• Shelf Ready Packaging (SRP) Retail-ready packaging designed for direct shelf placement without knives, cutters, or repacking, enhancing product visibility and reducing in-store handling time.
• Cardboard Produce Trays Die-cut cardboard trays for fresh produce with ventilation cut-outs, food-safe construction, and double-wall options for heavy produce; available in standard 60cm x 40cm and 40cm x 30cm or bespoke sizes.
• Free Standing Display Units (FSDUs) Lightweight, durable cardboard floor-standing display units for retail promotions, flat-packed for easy assembly and storage, customisable with brand graphics.
• Counter Display Units (CDUs) Compact countertop POS displays positioned near tills and checkout areas to encourage impulse purchases and product visibility, used for product launches and in-store promotions.
• Custom Branded E-commerce Boxes Bespoke branded postal and e-commerce packaging with full artwork printing on interior and exterior surfaces, including tear-open strips for tamper evidence, suited to DTC and subscription brands.
• Exhibition Standees Upright cardboard displays for events, exhibitions, and launches, available as life-size cutouts, countertop displays, or double-sided options with optional Correx outdoor materials.
• Pallet Display Bins Large cardboard displays designed for pallet-level retail positioning, enabling products to be displayed directly on shop floors for high-volume promotions.
• Home Entertainment POS Point-of-sale displays tailored for entertainment and media products, designed to capture attention in retail environments.
• Pet Care & Food POS Specialised POS displays for pet care and food products, featuring compartments for treats, toys, and other pet-related items.
• Food & Beverage POS POS displays designed for food and drink brands, focusing on freshness appeal and clear product visibility in retail environments.
• Sports & Fitness POS POS displays for sports and fitness products, designed to appeal to health-conscious consumers in retail environments.
• Concept Design Structural packaging design service creating bespoke engineering solutions tailored to specific product requirements and business goals, contracted alongside custom packaging projects.
• Prototyping & Mock-Ups 3D visual prototypes and plain white mock-ups created in the CAD suite for design validation, proportions review, and artwork placement testing before full production commitment.
• Print Layout & Artwork Design Graphic design services for packaging artwork, including branding, messaging, and visual elements printed on packaging surfaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of production waste recycled with nothing sent to landfill
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• TECO (Italy)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGarthwest is a UK distributor for TECO equipment, specifically automatic tray formers (T2N model). Garthwest handles installation and staff training for businesses implementing TECO machinery for automated produce tray assembly.
• Main Raw Material Supplier (Part-owned)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGarthwest holds partial ownership in their main corrugated cardboard supplier. This supplier has installed an anaerobic digester plant, a first for corrugated packaging in Europe, which uses food waste to power their manufacturing facility.
• Wyke Sixth Form CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership with local college in Hull. Garthwest has produced custom display solutions for college events (EPQ exhibitions, COVID-19 desktop screens) and supports the college's educational mission.
• Platform InitiativecoreOthersInitiative launched by Joint MD Lindsay West to help young people break into the creative tech industry and build new businesses. Since launch, Platform has helped start dozens of small tech companies and supported creation of over 100 jobs in the region.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• DS Smith: London-listed UK-headquartered global packaging group with a large corrugated and POS business serving enterprise FMCG and retail customers. Compares to Garthwest on corrugated packaging and POS but operates at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• Smurfit Kappa: Global paper-based and corrugated packaging leader with a strong UK and European footprint serving FMCG, e-commerce and retail. Compares to Garthwest on corrugated boxes, shelf-ready packaging and POS, but with vastly larger scale, vertical integration into paper mills, and international reach.
• Stora Enso: Nordic renewable packaging and paperboard group producing folding boxboard and packaging materials used in consumer cartons and POS. Overlaps with Garthwest on paperboard packaging, sustainability positioning and enterprise FMCG customers, but at a much larger scale and with upstream paperboard production.
• Pactiv Evergreen: North American integrated paper and packaging converter producing foodservice and consumer packaging including paper-based and corrugated products. Adjacent in product mix to Garthwest on foodservice and retail packaging, but with a very different geographic footprint and scale.
• Mondi Group: Integrated UK/European paper and packaging group producing containerboard, corrugated packaging and POS for FMCG and industrial customers. Comparable product mix to Garthwest in corrugated packaging and shelf-ready formats, but operates at a much larger scale and is vertically integrated into paper production.
• Saica Group: Spanish-headquartered European corrugated packaging and recycled paper manufacturer with significant UK operations. Compares to Garthwest on bespoke corrugated boxes and recycled-content packaging for enterprise customers, but is a much larger pan-European player.

Direct peers

• Benson Group: UK-based bespoke corrugated packaging manufacturer serving similar enterprise FMCG, retail and e-commerce customers with custom boxes, shelf-ready packaging and POS. A close size-and-scope comparable to Garthwest in the UK mid-market bespoke converter segment.
• Richmond Containers: UK-based smaller corrugated box and container manufacturer supplying bespoke and standard boxes to UK businesses. Most directly comparable to Garthwest on size, UK regional scope, custom corrugated boxes and similar SME/enterprise customer base.

Others

• Macfarlane Packaging: UK protective packaging distributor and manufacturer serving e-commerce, fulfilment and industrial customers. Adjacent to Garthwest on UK packaging distribution and protective transit packaging, but primarily a distributor rather than a fully bespoke converter.

Emerging players

• Ranpak Holdings: US-listed paper-based protective packaging specialist offering custom-fit sustainable packaging and protective solutions for e-commerce and shipping. Comparable to Garthwest in sustainable, paper-based protective packaging for e-commerce and transit, though more focused on cushioning than on boxes or POS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/garthwestcreative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/garthwest
• Xx.com/garthwestltd

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 Garthwest Creative