Saxon Packaging
Saxon Packaging (Smurfit Westrock Saxon) is a UK corrugated board converter founded in 1986 that designs and manufactures printed packaging boxes and fitments, primarily for branded drinks producers including Adnams, Beavertown, Camden Town Brewery, and MOTH cocktails.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersLowestoft, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Saxon Packaging does
Saxon Packaging is an independent UK converter of board into corrugated boxes, fitments, and decorative packaging, founded in 1986 in Lowestoft, East Anglia, and operating today as Smurfit Westrock Saxon following the 2024 merger of its parent Smurfit Kappa with WestRock. The business runs multi-process print operations — 8-colour litho, 5-colour flexo, digital, and silk-screen — alongside in-house structural design and prototyping, producing point-of-sale, retail-ready, transit, and gift packaging for the drinks industry (beer, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks, and increasingly non-alcoholic and eCommerce ranges). It is sales-led B2B with a minimum order of 2,000 units and a customer base that includes Adnams, Beavertown, Camden Town Brewery, Five Points Brewing, MOTH cocktails (Waitrose), Ugly Drinks, and other branded beverage producers.
The company is held to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, BRCGS, and FSC standards, holds customer-owned tooling, and employs 70+ staff, having grown from three employees at founding. Its commercial model is project-based manufacture of customer-specified packaging, with revenue generated through per-unit pricing on short to medium production runs; tools are customer-owned and can be returned, framing the relationship as an ongoing service contract rather than a sticky tooling lock-in. The 2016 acquisition by Smurfit Kappa and subsequent 2024 rebrand to Smurfit Westrock Saxon integrated the business into one of the world's largest paper-based packaging groups, with a Dublin office address visible and access to group-level supply, design, and geographic reach.
Saxon Packaging firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Saxon Packaging
- Legal name
- Saxon Packaging
- Website
- https://saxonpackaging.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Saxon Packaging (Smurfit Westrock Saxon) is a UK corrugated board converter founded in 1986 that designs and manufactures printed packaging boxes and fitments, primarily for branded drinks producers including Adnams, Beavertown, Camden Town Brewery, and MOTH cocktails.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Saxon Packaging industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corrugated Packaging Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219), Converted Paper Product Manufacturing (3222)
- SIC
- Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins) (IMAMAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Beverage Packaging (Bottles, Cans, Cartons, Kegs) (IMALAHAD), Secondary & Multipack Packaging (IMALAHAB), Specialty Paper Packaging (Gift Boxes, Luxury Cartons, Composite Paper Cans) (IMALACAI)
Keywords
Where Saxon Packaging is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lowestoft
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Saxon Packaging business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Packaging Products: One-time transaction-based revenue from custom corrugated cardboard packaging orders. Pricing is quote-based with minimum order quantities. Customers pay for tooling (cutting formes and stereos) which they own after purchase for future orders.
- Print Services: Additional revenue from print processes (litho, flexo, digital) with varying price points based on colors, finishes, and volume. Decorative embellishments like foil blocking, spot UV, and laminates are charged as extras.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Custom Packaging - 2,000+ units |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Saxon Packaging product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Saxon Packaging designs and manufactures custom corrugated cardboard packaging, boxes, and fitments with in-house lithographic, flexographic, and digital print processes. The company specializes in bespoke packaging for the UK drinks and beverage industry, including beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks, and ready-to-drink cocktail brands, with additional offerings across eCommerce, retail, shelf-ready, luxury gift, and subscription packaging formats.
Product overview
Saxon Packaging, operating as part of Smurfit Westrock UK (formerly Smurfit Kappa Group), is a manufacturer and supplier of corrugated cardboard packaging solutions. Their portfolio centers on the drinks and beverage packaging sector with Beer Packaging, Wine Packaging, Spirits Packaging, and Drinks Packaging forming the core product lines. These are complemented by specialty offerings including Luxury Gift Packaging for premium presentations, eCommerce Packaging for online retail, and Shelf Ready Packaging for retail environments. The product line extends to Quick Assembly Packaging featuring crash-lock bases for efficiency, Subscription Packaging for recurring box services, and Retail Packaging solutions. Print capabilities include Litho Printed Packaging (up to 8 colours) and flexo printing options. The company operates from Lowestoft, Suffolk, serving customers across the UK with a focus on sustainable, recyclable paper-based packaging solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Beer Packaging Bespoke corrugated cardboard packaging solutions designed for breweries producing Beer, Ale & Cider and other fermented beverages, offering innovative and sustainable transit and gift packaging.
- Wine Packaging Packaging solutions designed for Wine, Champagne and other bottled goods, including protective designs and custom cardboard inserts.
- Spirits Packaging Eye-catching packaging solutions designed for the spirits drinks market, including gin, vodka, and other spirit bottle packaging.
- Drinks Packaging Comprehensive range of drinks packaging solutions designed for Wine, Spirits & Non-Alcoholic beverages, including cardboard bottle and can transit packs.
- Non and Low Alcoholic Packaging Innovative bespoke packaging solutions for the non-alcoholic and low-alcoholic drinks market sector.
- Boxes, Cases & Cartons Sustainable corrugated cardboard packaging solutions for a range of bespoke or standard requirements, including custom cartons that power productivity and boost bottom line.
- eCommerce Packaging Innovative packaging solutions designed for online retail that boost brand visibility and delight customers at unboxing, including custom internal fittings and bespoke mailing boxes.
- Quick Assembly Packaging Packaging solutions featuring crash lock glue bases and quick assembly dividers that cut labour costs and speed up fulfillment operations.
- Litho Printed Packaging High-quality lithographic printed packaging that allows products to stand out from the crowd, featuring up to 8 colours and premium print finishes.
- Retail Packaging Bespoke and innovative packaging designed to stand out from the crowd in the retail environment, including shelf-ready packaging solutions.
- Shelf Ready Packaging Innovative shelf ready packaging (SRP) built for ease of shelf placement, display and visual disruption at point of sale.
- Luxury Gift Packaging Premium gift packaging that delivers a visually stunning, high-quality finish with decorative embellishments including foil blocking, spot UV, and textured laminates.
- Easy to Return Packaging Bespoke easy to return packaging solutions that improve customer experiences and streamline reverse logistics processes.
- Subscription Packaging Packaging solutions that adhere to courier specifications or can be tailored to specific requirements for subscription box services.
Quantifiable outcome
- 73% of customers say paper or cardboard packaging is important to them (Drapers)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Saxon Packaging
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Saxon Packaging technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Saxon Packaging partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- PentagramminorDesign studio partner on the MOTH (Mix Of Total Happiness) project. Pentagram developed the brand name, story, philosophy and identity while Saxon Packaging manufactured the shelf ready packaging. Collaboration between Pentagram creatives, MOTH founders, and Saxon design team to bring colourful SRP packaging to life for Waitrose launch.
- AdnamscoreLongstanding partnership since 1998 supplying bespoke packaging for Adnams' range of beverages including beer, gin, and spirits. Saxon Packaging supports Adnams' community initiatives including the annual Adnams 10K run for 4 consecutive years, providing branded paper bags and promotional water bottles. Relationship described as spanning over two decades of innovative packaging solutions.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Saxon Packaging competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- DS Smith: One of the UK's largest corrugated packaging manufacturers with a national multi-plant footprint and a strong sustainability/value-added packaging strategy. Directly comparable as a UK corrugated converter serving FMCG, beverage, and eCommerce customers, but at vastly greater scale than Saxon.
- WestRock: US-based global packaging company (now merged with Smurfit Kappa to form Smurfit Westrock). Comparable corrugated and consumer packaging capabilities targeting beverage and consumer goods end-markets, but with a North American-centric footprint rather than Saxon's UK focus.
- Mondi: Global paper and packaging group with corrugated and containerboard operations across Europe, including the UK. Comparable in core corrugated product category and ability to serve beverage customers, though with a far broader geographic and product footprint than Saxon.
- Smurfit Kappa Group (now Smurfit Westrock): Direct parent company and Europe's largest paper-based packaging group. Comparable as a corrugated converter serving beverage and consumer goods customers, but operating at continental/global scale across hundreds of plants rather than Saxon's single-site UK operation.
- International Paper: World's largest pulp and paper company with significant corrugated packaging operations globally. Comparable in core corrugated category and ability to supply large beverage customers, but with a US-centric manufacturing footprint and a focus on containerboard integration versus Saxon's converting specialization.
- Graphic Packaging: US-listed global paperboard packaging company specializing in folding cartons and food/beverage packaging. Comparable in serving beverage and consumer goods customers with paper-based packaging, though focused on folding cartons rather than corrugated, and with a US/global rather than UK footprint.
Direct peers
- Boxes and Packaging Ltd: Independent UK corrugated packaging supplier offering custom-printed boxes for retail, eCommerce, and beverage customers. Comparable in scale and business model to Saxon, serving overlapping customer segments with bespoke corrugated solutions.
- Galloways Printers: UK-based corrugated packaging manufacturer serving similar beverage, food, and eCommerce customers with custom printed packaging. Closely comparable in scale (regional UK converter) and product offering (custom corrugated boxes with print finishes), directly competing for similar SMB and mid-market accounts.
- Elmer Packaging: UK corrugated converter specializing in custom printed packaging for retail, gift, and eCommerce applications. Directly comparable as a UK-based independent converter offering litho-printed, custom-shaped corrugated packaging solutions in similar MOQ ranges.
- Kite Packaging: UK-based packaging distributor and converter offering corrugated boxes, cardboard packaging, and protective solutions. Comparable in serving UK eCommerce and retail customers with custom corrugated offerings, though stronger in distribution and standard ranges versus Saxon's bespoke design depth.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Saxon Packaging social profiles
Digital presenceSaxon Packaging compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Saxon Packaging financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Saxon Packaging leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles21 records
Saxon Packaging funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Saxon Packaging M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Saxon Packaging
What does Saxon Packaging do?
Saxon Packaging designs and manufactures custom corrugated cardboard packaging, boxes, and fitments with in-house lithographic, flexographic, and digital print processes. The company specializes in bespoke packaging for the UK drinks and beverage industry, including beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks, and ready-to-drink cocktail brands, with additional offerings across eCommerce, retail, shelf-ready, luxury gift, and subscription packaging formats.
Is Saxon Packaging a public or private company?
Saxon Packaging is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Saxon Packaging founded?
Saxon Packaging was founded in 1986. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Saxon Packaging based?
Saxon Packaging is headquartered in Lowestoft, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Saxon Packaging make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Custom Packaging Products are the primary driver. The others are print Services.
Who are Saxon Packaging's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are DS Smith, WestRock, Mondi, Smurfit Kappa Group (now Smurfit Westrock), International Paper and Graphic Packaging. Direct peers are Boxes and Packaging Ltd, Galloways Printers, Elmer Packaging and Kite Packaging.
Does Saxon Packaging have an API?
No public API is recorded for Saxon Packaging.
What industry is Saxon Packaging in?
Saxon Packaging's product category is Corrugated Packaging Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAHAA, Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins), with a secondary code of IMALAHAD, Beverage Packaging (Bottles, Cans, Cartons, Kegs). Its NAICS code is 322211 and its SIC code is 2650.