Label Apeel today launches Carton Apeel, a new service giving independent brands flexible order quantities and decorative finishes applied in a single pass.
Working with press manufacturer Edale, Label Apeel is extending its decorative print expertise from labels into cartons using the FL6p press. Printing, hot and cold foil, embossing, varnishes and laminate are combined in a single pass, with die cutting on the same line. The press also supports printing on both the inside and outside of the carton.
Independent brands can source the label for their bottle or jar and its carton from one supplier, printed to one colour standard. Label Apeel says combining production stages will reduce handling and work in progress, shorten lead times and deliver a consistent finish across labels and cartons.
Carton Apeel is aimed at independent and boutique brands that need distinctive packaging alongside flexibility over order volumes and stock. Target sectors include tea and coffee, confectionery, cosmetics, fragrance, gifting and craft beer multipacks.
Stuart Kellock, Director at Leicester-based Label Apeel, said: “Smaller brands are fighting hard for attention on the shelf, so their packaging has to do more than simply hold a product. It needs to tell a story and give people a reason to pick it up. This is all about the right design, materials and decorative techniques, together with the skill and care of the people producing it.
“Our press operators are craftspeople who enjoy taking on a challenge, and we work closely with designers to bring out the best in their ideas. The FL6p lets us extend that approach from labels into cartons. With Carton Apeel, we’re now able to offer these smaller brands consistency across their product and packaging. We like to think we’re helping the smaller brands punch above their weight.”
Independent brands are driving growth in the UK economy. The fastest-growing challenger brands in fast-moving consumer goods grew by nearly 49 per cent in a year, against 3.4 per cent for the rest of the market, according to the Challenger 50 FMCG 2025 report. Their costs are rising too, with production costs for smaller food and drink makers up 5.3 per cent in 2025, says the Food and Drink Federation.
Carton Apeel has no minimum order quantity and a typical turnaround of 10 to 15 days. A brand can order a single carton or 10,000 and replenish as stock sells. A core range can run in larger quantities while a seasonal promotion can be handled on shorter print runs, so smaller businesses can avoid stocking up on packaging they must later scrap.
Stuart added: “By combining that craft with efficient production and quick turnaround times, we can help these independent brands stand out while managing cost and stock more flexibly.”
For Label Apeel, the FL6p provides a route into carton production alongside its existing label offering. Quick changeovers allow label and carton jobs for the same customer to run in close succession, with colour matched across both. This gives the business scope to take on new packaging work while keeping production flexible.
Lachlan Buirds, Managing Director of Edale, said: “Label Apeel has built a strong reputation for producing premium labels that help brands stand out. The FL6p gives the team the ability to bring that same creativity and quality to carton production, combining print, embellishment and die cutting in a single pass. Carton Apeel is a great example of how converters can expand their offering, create new opportunities for growth and give customers greater flexibility across their packaging.”
Label Apeel prints premium self-adhesive labels for spirits, drinks, food, nutrition and cosmetics brands, and for the designers who work with them. Its decorative print has earned industry recognition, including PrintWeek Label Printer of the Year.
Find out more about Carton Apeel and book a meeting with the team at cartonapeel.co.uk
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