Kayco

What Kayco does

Kayco Inc. is a privately held packaging supply distributor headquartered in Biddeford Pool, Maine, serving businesses throughout the Northeast United States. The company was founded in 2004 (per company history; firmographics list 1984) and has operated for over 20 years, positioning itself as a 'one-stop shop' for packaging materials spanning boxes, stretch film, flexible packaging, void fill, labels, edge protection (Angleboard®), strapping, bags, poly sheeting, sustainable 'Green Options,' and tapes. Its primary vertical focus is the craft beverage industry — specifically beer, seltzer, and cider producers — for whom it supplies custom-fit corrugated carton trays and die-cut holders in various pack configurations (6/12/24-pack) and can/bottle sizes.

Underlying technology centers on a digital label printing capability marketed as 'top-of-the-line,' supporting on-demand custom labels with specialty finishes including foil stamping, embossing, textural effects, mosaic designs, and thermal inks, with low minimum order quantities and rapid turnaround. The core operating model is consultative rather than transactional: Kayco runs a four-step sales process (gather project details → quote → test packaging → place order) and conducts workflow analysis to design custom packaging materials for unique applications, converting commodity distribution into a solution-selling motion.

Kayco makes money through three streams: (1) one-time sales of packaging supplies and custom digitally printed labels at quote-based unit pricing, and (2) professional services revenue from custom packaging design and consulting for new projects and product implementation. Pricing is non-public, negotiated per-project based on specifications, quantities, and customization. The go-to-market is direct sales-led, regional (Northeast US), supported by a content-marketing website (kaycoinc.com) and an email newsletter, with conversion occurring via 'Request a Quote' CTAs. There are no disclosed investors, no funding history, and no named enterprise customer logos; the company is founder-operated with 1-10 employees.

Name

Kayco

Legal name

Kayco Inc.

Website

https://kaycoinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kayco Inc. is a privately held, Northeast US packaging supply distributor serving primarily craft beverage producers (beer, seltzer, cider) and general businesses with custom corrugated trays, digitally printed labels, and a broad catalog of packaging materials via consultative, quote-based direct sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging Supplies Distribution

NAICS

Packaging and Labeling Services (561910), Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219), Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111), Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing (322212)

SIC

Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products (5110), Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags (2673), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Engineered Transit Packaging & Packaging Design Services (IMALAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins) (IMAMAHAA), Folding Carton & Paperboard Packaging Printing (IMALAKAH)

Keywords

• Packaging supply distribution
• Custom packaging design
• Corrugated carton trays
• Digital label printing
• Industrial packaging materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Biddeford Pool

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Packaging Supplies Distribution: Sale of packaging materials including boxes, stretch film, flexible packaging, void fill, labels, angle board, strapping, bags, poly sheeting, and tapes. Products are sold directly to businesses throughout the Northeast region.
2. Custom Packaging Design Services: Consulting and design services for new projects and product implementation, analyzing client workflows and designing custom packaging materials for unique applications.
3. Custom Digitally Printed Labels: Custom label printing with specialty finishes including low minimums, quick turnaround, foil stamping, embossing, and thermal inks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kayco Inc. is a packaging supply distribution company serving the sourcing and inventory needs of businesses throughout the Northeast US. The company sells packaging materials including corrugated cartons, beverage trays, stretch film, flexible packaging, void fill, labels, angleboard edge protection, strapping, bags, poly sheeting, and tapes, complemented by custom packaging design services and digitally printed labels with specialty finishes.

Product overview

Kayco Inc. is a packaging supply distribution company serving businesses throughout the Northeast with integrated packaging services. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of packaging products including Boxes, Stretch Film, Flexible Packaging, Void Fill, Labels (including Digitally Printed Labels with specialty finishes), Angleboard® Edge Protection, Strapping, Bags, Poly Sheeting, Green Options, and Tapes (including Masking Tapes and Carton Sealing Tapes). The company provides solution-based products as a one-stop shop, analyzing client workflows to design custom packaging materials for unique applications, from paper to plastic, cartons to film, storage systems and material handling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corrugated Carton Trays Sturdy, customizable corrugated trays for packaging and promoting craft beverages, available in brown or white, plain or custom-printed, and designed to customer dimensions and specifications. Targeted at craft beverage producers.
• Die-cut Trays Flat trays with fold-and-lock mechanism that assemble in seconds, available in 24-pack, 12-pack, and 6-pack configurations, accommodating different can and bottle types for craft beverage packaging.
• Stretch Film Stretch film packaging materials for securing and protecting palletized goods during storage and transit, sold to businesses in the Northeast.
• Flexible Packaging Flexible packaging solutions for various product applications across commercial and industrial customers.
• Void Fill Void fill materials for cushioning and protecting products during shipping, sold to businesses needing packaging supplies.
• Digitally Printed Labels Custom labels produced via digital label printing with specialty inks and effects, enabling on-demand changes and fast output with low minimums and quick turnaround. Capabilities include foil stamping, embossing, textures, mosaic designs, and thermal inks.
• Angleboard Edge Protection Edge protection products for safeguarding product edges and corners during transit and storage, distributed to Northeast businesses.
• Strapping Strapping materials for securing packages and pallets, sold to businesses for industrial and commercial packaging applications.
• Bags Packaging bags for various industrial and commercial applications, distributed to businesses throughout the Northeast.
• Poly Sheeting Polyethylene sheeting materials for packaging and surface protection, sold to businesses in the Northeast.
• Green Options Environmentally-friendly packaging alternatives and sustainable packaging solutions offered as a distinct line within Kayco's packaging portfolio.
• Masking Tapes Paper tape characterized by lighter adhesive and easy tearing, suitable for smooth applications and jobs where tape will be removed after completion. Stocked in standard core sizes and roll lengths with custom sizes available upon request.
• Carton Sealing Tapes Poly-based tapes used for packing and sealing boxes, maintaining structural integrity of corrugated boxes and offering added protection to shipped products, compatible with manual application and machine applicators.
• Custom Packaging Design Services Consultative design services for new projects and product implementation, analyzing client workflows and designing custom packaging materials for unique applications across Northeast businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Improved bottom line through optimized packaging solutions

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Berlin Packaging: Berlin Packaging is a hybrid packaging supplier and distributor offering rigid and corrugated containers, closures, and custom design services to consumer goods and beverage customers. It directly overlaps with Kayco's beverage carton tray offering and consultative custom packaging approach, but at a much larger national scale.

Broad incumbents

• Veritiv Corporation: Veritiv distributes printing papers, packaging products, and facility supplies to North American business customers. It competes with Kayco on corrugated boxes, stretch film, and labels but at significantly larger scale across broader geographies.
• Smurfit Kappa: Smurfit Kappa is one of the world's largest containerboard and corrugated packaging manufacturers. Its corrugated trays and boxes compete with Kayco's beverage carton trays, though it operates as a mill/converter rather than a regional distributor.
• Sonoco Products: Sonoco manufactures industrial and consumer packaging including paperboard tubes, containers, flexible packaging, and protective solutions. It overlaps with Kayco across multiple packaging categories including labels and protective packaging.
• TricorBraun: TricorBraun is one of the largest rigid packaging distributors in North America, supplying bottles, containers, and closures primarily to consumer goods customers. While focused on rigid rather than corrugated, its consultative model and custom design services parallel Kayco's approach in the beverage/CPG vertical.
• Packaging Corporation of America: PCA is a major US producer of containerboard and corrugated products serving industrial and consumer goods customers. Its corrugated tray and box offerings overlap directly with Kayco's core SKUs in the beverage market.
• Uline: Uline is the largest direct-to-business packaging distributor in North America, offering boxes, stretch film, tapes, labels, and shipping supplies via a catalog and next-day delivery model. It competes with Kayco on breadth and price for routine packaging SKUs but lacks Kayco's custom design and digital label printing specialization.
• Sealed Air: Sealed Air manufactures and sells protective and food packaging including Cryovac films, Bubble Wrap, and void fill systems. It overlaps with Kayco on stretch film and void fill categories and serves similar food and beverage customers, but as a branded manufacturer rather than a distributor.

Emerging players

• Pratt Industries: Pratt Industries is a US-focused corrugated packaging manufacturer emphasizing recycled content and sustainability. Its sustainable packaging focus and corrugated tray offerings parallel Kayco's Green Options line and beverage carton tray products.

Regional players

• Midwest Packaging & Container: Regional US corrugated and custom packaging converters serving local CPG and beverage customers. Comparable as a regional competitor to Kayco in terms of customer profile and tray/box custom design service offering, though operating in the Midwest rather than Northeast.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kayco-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Kayco