What Clifton Packaging does

Clifton Packaging Group Ltd. is a UK-based flexible packaging manufacturer founded in 1981 and headquartered in Leicester, operating across two production sites. The company designs, engineers, and manufactures high-performance printed films, lidding films, and pouches for the food industry, with primary focus on wet protein, snacks, ready-to-eat, and ingredients categories. Core technical capabilities include HD flexographic printing up to 8 colours, rotogravure printing up to 10 colours, lidding films with weld/peel/reclosable options, in-house shaped stand-up pouch production, and ovenable freezer-to-oven packaging solutions. The company maintains quality and sustainability certifications including BRCGS Packaging Materials AA+ (achieved via voluntary unannounced audit in December 2025), ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001, and has won WorldStar and Starpack Awards for bespoke pouch design.

Clifton operates a B2B enterprise sales model targeting blue-chip food brands and manufacturers, with quote-based pricing tailored to customer requirements. The go-to-market combines direct field sales engagement with brand owners and supply chain partners, event-driven presence at industry trade shows (notably Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026), and organic digital presence. The business model is anchored in long-term partnerships rather than transactional relationships, supported by vertically integrated capabilities spanning design, printing, laminating, slitting, pouch conversion, and machinery integration, with contract packing offered via partner networks.

In November 2024, Clifton was acquired by Carton Pack S.p.A., an Italian packaging company and portfolio company of A&M Capital Europe (a London-based private equity firm with €650 million in commitments). The acquisition positioned Clifton as a UK platform within CartonPack Group's pan-European food packaging strategy, combining its flexible packaging expertise with the parent group's scale, capacity, and multi-material capabilities. The company continues to operate under CEO Shane D'Souza, with production scale of approximately 50 million flexible pouch packs produced in 2024 and record forecasts targeted for 2026 following post-acquisition investment of over £1 million in equipment, automation, and people development.

Name

Clifton Packaging

Legal name

Clifton Packaging Group Ltd.

Website

https://cliftonpackaging.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Clifton Packaging is a UK-based flexible packaging manufacturer founded in 1981, producing printed films, lidding films, and pouches for blue-chip food brands across protein, snacks, ready-to-eat, and ingredients categories. Now part of CartonPack Group following its 2024 acquisition by the Italian PE-backed packaging company.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flexible Food Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111), Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112), Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing (322220)

SIC

Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags (2673), Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081)

akta.pro primary industry

Flexible Plastic Packaging (Bags, Pouches, Sachets) Manufacturing (IMANAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Flexible Packaging Printing (Film/Poly/Paper Print) (IMALAKAG)

Keywords

• Flexible packaging manufacturing
• Food packaging films
• Printed pouches
• Ovenable packaging
• Lidding film solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Leicester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flexible Packaging Products: Manufacture and sale of flexible films, pouches, and lidding films for food packaging applications. Revenue generated through direct B2B sales to food brands and manufacturers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Clifton Packaging designs, engineers and manufactures high-performance flexible packaging — printed films, lidding films, shaped and standard pouches, and ovenable packaging — for the food industry, particularly protein, snacks, ready-to-eat, spices and ingredients categories. Production is delivered from two Leicester manufacturing sites using HD flexographic printing (up to 8 colours), rotogravure printing (up to 10 colours), laminating, slitting and pouch conversion, with integrated packing machinery supply and contract packing through partners. The offering also includes sustainable material variants such as recyclable mono-material films, PCR content exceeding 30%, and compostable or biodegradable options.

Product overview

Clifton Packaging is a flexible packaging manufacturer offering a unified portfolio of products centred on three core offerings: Flexible Films (printed films with HD flexo and gravure printing, plus lidding films), Ovenable Packaging (temperature-resistant films and pouches for freezer-to-oven performance), and Pouches (various formats including stand-up, shaped, side gusset, quad seal, pillow, brick pack, and spouted pouches). The company also provides sustainable packaging innovations including recyclable mono-material films, high PCR content options, and compostable materials. All products are targeted at the food industry, particularly protein, snacks, ready-to-eat, and ingredients categories, with in-house capabilities spanning design, printing, laminating, slitting, pouch conversion, and machinery integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flexible Films High-performance printed films supplied on reel, produced with HD flexographic printing (up to 8 colours) and rotogravure printing (up to 10 colours) for VFFS, HFFS and flowpack applications, plus lidding films with weld, peel and reclosable solutions engineered for PE, PVC, PS, APET, C-PET, rPET and PP substrates across ambient to retort applications. Targeted at food brands and manufacturers in protein, snacks, ready-to-eat and ingredients categories.
• Ovenable Packaging Temperature-resistant films and pouches engineered for freezer-to-oven performance, including steam-cook bags, roast-in-bag formats, ovenable lidding films for CPET and foil trays, and high-barrier ovenable solutions that maintain shelf life while withstanding cooking temperatures. Designed for ready-to-eat food brands, ready-meal producers and other food manufacturers needing high-barrier, heat-stable packaging.
• Pouches Range of award-winning pouch formats including stand-up, shaped, side gusset, quad seal, pillow, brick pack and spouted pouches, with barrier, retort and aseptic options. Features easy-tear openings, zippers, spouts and handles. Bespoke-shaped pouches have been recognised with WorldStar and Starpack Awards. Targeted at food brands across protein, snacks, ready-to-eat and ingredients segments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 million flexible pouch packs produced in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CartonPack GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2024Italian packaging giant and parent company of Clifton Packaging following majority stake acquisition in November 2024. Combines Clifton's flexible packaging expertise with CartonPack's scale, capacity and multi-material capabilities of a pan-European leader. Clifton continues to operate under leadership of CEO Shane D'Souza.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Coveris Holdings: Pan-European flexible and rigid packaging converter serving food, pet food, and consumer goods. Comparable product set to Clifton including printed films, pouches, and lidding films for protein, snacks, and ready-meal categories.
• Constantia Flexibles: European-headquartered flexible packaging specialist focused on food, pharma, and consumer goods. Closely comparable to Clifton in HD flexo/gravure printed films, pouches, and barrier laminates serving blue-chip FMCG customers across Europe.
• ProAmpac: US-headquartered flexible packaging converter with growing European footprint. Competes with Clifton in stand-up and shaped pouches, recyclable mono-material films, and ovenable/retort packaging for food brands.
• KM Packaging Services: UK-based flexible packaging and lidding film converter serving food manufacturers. Closely comparable mid-sized UK specialist competing with Clifton in lidding films, flowpack films, and food-grade flexible packaging.
• Huhtamäki: Global food and consumer packaging group with a strong flexible films and pouches business in Europe. Comparable to Clifton in printed films, lidding, and shaped pouches for protein, snacks, and ready-to-eat categories.
• FFP Packaging Solutions: UK flexible packaging converter specialising in food and horticultural films. Comparable to Clifton in printed VFFS/HFFS films and lidding, serving overlapping blue-chip UK food brand customers.

Broad incumbents

• Sonoco Products Company: Global diversified packaging manufacturer with flexible packaging, paperboard, and rigid plastics operations. Overlaps with Clifton in printed flexible packaging for food, snacks, and protein applications across global FMCG accounts.
• Amcor plc: Global packaging giant with a substantial flexible packaging division serving food brands worldwide. Directly competes with Clifton in printed films, pouches, and lidding films, but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple substrates and geographies.
• Mondi Group: European paper and packaging major with flexible packaging operations serving FMCG customers. Competes with Clifton in printed flexible films and pouches, while also offering paper-based and corrugated alternatives relevant to sustainability-led substitutions.
• Sealed Air Corporation: Diversified packaging company with a significant food protective packaging segment (Cryovac) including films and pouches. Overlaps with Clifton in printed films and lidding for protein and ready-meal applications, though much larger and broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CARTONPACKGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cartonpack
• Instagraminstagram.com/cartonpack
• Xx.com/cliftongroupltd

Compliance7 records

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 Clifton Packaging