AC Packaging

What AC Packaging does

AC Packaging Co Ltd is a UK-based, family-owned packaging supplies distributor and converter founded on July 17, 1979, by Allan and Carol Whittle in Bury, Lancashire. The company has remained in the same family for over 45 years and operates from its headquarters at Unit 2 Porritt Street, Freetown Industrial Estate, Bury (BL9 6HJ), which is currently being relocated. Its core operations combine stock packaging distribution with in-house corrugated box manufacturing at the Bury facility, enabling custom-sized postal boxes produced to exact customer dimensions, alongside bespoke packaging design and consultancy services. The product portfolio spans bags, protective packaging, banding and strapping, stretch and shrink film, labels, paper products, food and drink packaging, warehouse equipment, pallets, tape, and postal packaging, with a clearance line active during the current relocation.

The business operates a primarily e-commerce-led go-to-market through acpackaging.co.uk, supplemented by phone and email direct sales for bespoke and custom enquiries, a Facebook presence, and a multi-channel distribution model combining own delivery vehicles (same/next-day local), third-party parcel and pallet carriers (UK mainland), and click-and-collect from the Bury warehouse. Pricing is unit-based for cash customers with free delivery above £150 and an £8.99 charge below, while larger and repeat buyers access bulk discounts and trade/credit accounts. Customer segments are primarily UK businesses (small retailers to large warehouses) needing shipping and protective packaging, with secondary segments in food service (bakeries, takeaways, cafes) and storage customers requiring palletised stockholding. No external investment, parent company, or institutional ownership is indicated; the company is privately held by the founding family.

Name

AC Packaging

Legal name

AC Packaging Co Ltd

Website

https://acpackaging.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AC Packaging is a UK-based, family-owned packaging supplies distributor and converter serving UK businesses with stock packaging products, in-house custom corrugated box manufacturing, and bespoke design services via e-commerce and direct sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Packaging Materials & Supplies

NAICS

Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111), Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing (322220), Paperboard Container Manufacturing (32221)

SIC

Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags (2673), Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products (5110), Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods (No Contaners/Boxes) (2670)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Corrugated Packaging (Boxes, Sheets, Pads) (IMALACAA), Paper Bags & Sacks (retail, industrial, multiwall) (IMAMAHAC), Inflatable & Air Cushion Packaging (Air Pillows, Bubble Wrap Systems) (IMALAFAB), Paper-Based Packaging & Single-Use Paper Products (Paper Bags, Wraps, Cartons) (CRADALAL), Packaging & Product Brand Design (BPAFAEAG)

Keywords

• Packaging supplies
• Corrugated boxes
• Protective packaging
• Polythene packaging
• Bespoke packaging design

Headquarters

HQ city

Bury

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, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Packaging Materials Sales: Direct B2C and B2B sales of packaging supplies including bags, protective packaging, strapping, stretch film, labels, paper, food packaging, warehouse equipment, and tape through their e-commerce platform.
2. Custom/Bespoke Packaging Solutions: Custom manufacturing and printing services for non-stock items, custom-sized boxes, and branded packaging (printed boxes, tape, mailing bags, labels) with minimum order quantities.
3. Value-Added Services: Storage solutions and pre-packing contract services for customers needing inventory management and fulfillment support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

AC Packaging distributes a broad catalogue of stock packaging supplies — bags, protective packaging, strapping, stretch film, labels, paper products, food packaging, warehouse equipment, pallets, postal packaging and tape — primarily to UK businesses through its e-commerce storefront. It also manufactures custom-sized corrugated postal boxes in-house at its Bury facility and offers bespoke packaging design, consultancy, storage and pre-packing services as value-added offerings.

Product overview

AC Packaging is a UK-based packaging supplies distributor offering a broad portfolio of stock and bespoke packaging solutions. Their core offering consists of e-commerce-focused product categories including Bags (polythene bags, paper bags, carrier bags, mailing bags), Protective Packaging (bubble lined envelopes, foam wraps, packing paper), Stretch Film & Shrink Film (hand stretch film, pallet wrap, dispensers), Banding-Strapping (polypropylene strapping, metal seals, tensioners), Labels (warning labels, document wallets), Paper Products (greaseproof paper, tissue paper, kraft rolls), Food & Drink Packaging (food-grade bags, grease-resistant papers), Warehouse Equipment (packing benches, workstations, tools), Postal Packaging (mailing boxes, envelopes), Tape, Pallets, and Clearance items. Beyond stock products, they provide value-added services including bespoke packaging design and consultancy, in-house corrugated box manufacturing at their Bury facility, secure stock storage, and pre-packing services. They also offer trade accounts and volume discounts for regular customers. The company was established in 1979 and remains family-owned, operating from Bury, Lancashire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bags
• Protective Packaging
• Banding and Strapping
• Stretch Wrap and Shrink Film
• Labels
• Paper Products
• Food and Drink Packaging
• Warehouse Equipment
• Pallets
• Postal Packaging
• Tape
• In-House Corrugated Box Manufacturing
• Bespoke Design and Consultancy Services
• Storage and Pre-Packing Services
• Trade Accounts and Volume Discounts

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Swiftpak: UK supplier of polythene and packaging products including bags, stretch film, and custom packaging solutions. Comparable in polythene conversion heritage, custom manufacturing capability, and UK business customer base.
• Polybags Ltd: UK-based manufacturer and supplier of polythene bags, mailing bags, and flexible packaging including custom printed options. Highly comparable given AC Packaging's polythene conversion roots and stock-and-custom bag offering.
• Davpack: UK-based packaging supplies retailer selling boxes, mailing bags, bubble wrap, tape, and protective packaging direct to businesses via e-commerce. Closely comparable in product range, B2B e-commerce GTM, and UK-only geographic scope.
• Packaging Supplies Ltd: UK packaging distributor offering boxes, mailing bags, stretch film, tape, and protective packaging online to businesses and consumers. Directly comparable to AC Packaging across product categories, customer segments, and online ordering/click-collect model.
• Janus Packaging: UK packaging distributor offering boxes, mailing supplies, protective packaging, and warehouse equipment to businesses via e-commerce. Comparable catalog breadth and SMB-to-mid-market targeting.
• Kite Packaging: One of the UK's largest packaging distributors with a comprehensive e-commerce catalog of boxes, bags, stretch film, strapping, and protective packaging. Directly comparable to AC Packaging in product breadth, target market (UK SMBs through enterprise), and online-first distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Smiths News: Large UK distributor of newspapers, magazines, and printed media with adjacent packaging supply operations. Overlaps with AC Packaging in paper product distribution and wholesale supply to UK businesses, but operates at significantly greater scale.
• Raja UK: UK arm of European packaging giant Raja Group, offering an extensive range of cardboard boxes, mailing bags, protective packaging, and warehouse supplies via e-commerce. Comparable product offering but significantly larger scale and broader European footprint than AC Packaging.

Emerging players

• Bags and Tubes Direct: UK-focused e-commerce supplier of polythene bags, mailing bags, and tubing products. Overlaps with AC Packaging's polythene bag category and B2B online distribution model, though narrower product range.

Others

• XPO Logistics / GXO (UK packaging operations): Large contract logistics providers that consume packaging supplies at scale, including contract packing services comparable to AC Packaging's pre-packing offering. Included as an adjacent buyer/ecosystem player rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/acpackaging.co.uk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ac-packaging-co-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 AC Packaging