Contract packing & hand packing
Bring products, inserts and packaging components together in a clearly defined outsourced packing process.
Explore this capability
UK contract packing & co-packing
Contract packing, precisely delivered.
Turn your packaging brief into a clear production plan. Discuss hand packing, kitting, assembly, labelling, sleeving, repacking and packaging rework with Stockholm.
01 / PRODUCTION
Clear scope
Direct communication
Careful delivery
SCROLL TO EXPLOREcopackaging.co.uk
Built around your brief
A UK contract packing partner that helps you move forward.
Contract packing—also called co-packing—is the outsourcing of packaging work to a specialist team.
It can cover hand packing, product assembly, kits, inserts, labels, sleeves, multipacks, repacking, finishing and rework. Stockholm gives you a direct route from requirement to practical support, with every project assessed around its product, components, quantity, instructions and timing.
Explore contract packing servicesCapabilities
Packaging support shaped around the work.
Every brief is different. These are the starting points for a focused conversation about your format, quantity, timing and finish.
Kitting & product assembly
Collate specified items into kits, sets or multipacks with the required sequence and presentation.
Explore this capabilityLabelling, repacking & rework
Discuss label or sleeve application, packaging changes, repacking and corrective work around your stock.
Explore this capabilitySeasonal & overflow support
Talk to us about launches, promotional or seasonal requirements and additional packing capacity.
Explore this capabilityNot sure which category fits? Send the brief you have and let the team take it from there.
IN-LINE ATTENTIONThe Stockholm approach
The detail stays visible.
Your pack is a customer touchpoint. The production process behind it should respect that.
We keep the conversation close to the work: understanding the brief, defining the process and keeping key project details in view. The result is a more confident route to finished stock.
- 01 A direct conversation about the requirement
- 02 A process considered around your pack
- 03 Clear next steps before production begins
A clear route to production
Start with the brief. Build from there.
You do not need every answer before you contact us. The right project details can be gathered and clarified together.
- 01
Share the requirement
Tell us about the pack, components, quantity, timing and the outcome you need.
- 02
Define the scope
We review the practical details, identify questions and confirm the most useful next step.
- 03
Plan the production
The agreed method and project requirements give the work a clear operating framework.
- 04
Complete the handover
Finished work moves on with the project details and onward requirements understood.
A useful first conversation
Give us the project, not a perfect brief.
You are planning a launch
Talk through pack components, presentation and your target window.
You need production capacity
Share the volume, current position and when stock needs to move.
You have a rework challenge
Explain what needs to change and the condition of the current stock.
Questions, answered
Before you get in touch.
See the complete contract packing FAQ or call 01494 623015.
What is contract packing?+
Contract packing is the outsourcing of packaging work to a specialist team. Depending on the brief, it can include hand packing, assembly, kitting, inserts, labelling, sleeving, multipacks, repacking, finishing and packaging rework.
Is contract packing the same as co-packing?+
The terms are commonly used for the same type of outsourced packaging support. Co-packing is a shortened form of contract packing; the exact work still depends on the product, pack format, quantity, instructions and timing.
What should I include in a contract packing enquiry?+
Share the pack format, components, approximate quantity, variants, target date and any approved instructions or presentation requirements you already have. If the brief is still developing, send what you know and mark the open points.
Can Stockholm help with both one-off and ongoing work?+
Every project starts with a scope conversation. Tell us whether your requirement is a single run, seasonal, overflow or ongoing, and we will assess the right production approach with you.
What affects contract packing costs and lead times?+
Pack format, process steps, quantities, variants, components, stock availability, production planning and the target date can all affect a proposal. Send the real project details for a relevant assessment.
Can Stockholm discuss labelling, inserts, kits, multipacks or rework?+
These are all relevant contract packing conversations. The exact pack, materials, quantity, approved instructions and timing determine fit, so contact the team with the details for a clear answer.
Can Stockholm discuss promotional, seasonal or overflow packing?+
Yes. Share the campaign or seasonal window, finished-pack format, quantities, components and onward plan so the practical fit can be assessed.
Start a project conversation
What are you working on?
Share the essentials and the Stockholm team can begin with the right questions.
Turn a pack recipe into repeatable assembly
For a kitting or co-packaging project, write one pack recipe for each finished variant. List every product, insert, sleeve and outer component with its approved reference and quantity per pack. A photographed example should show orientation and assembly order as well as the closed presentation. This gives Stockholm a practical basis for assessing handling time and the steps needed to produce consistent sets.
Separate variant control from general packing instructions. Similar components should have an unambiguous identifier, and the brief should show where a colour, language, size or fragrance changes. Agree how the work area is cleared between variants and how part-built packs are labelled if a run pauses. Give explicit instructions for shortages so one missing component does not lead to an unapproved substitution.
Decide how each finished set will be identified before volume assembly. GS1 treats a predefined assortment as a distinct grouping; changing its contents may require a new GTIN. Your brand or trading partner should approve the relevant pack identifiers. Include component reconciliation and the treatment of unused materials in the handover, giving you a clearer starting point for the next repeat order.
Can two similar kit variants run under one packing instruction?
Use a shared method where appropriate, but give each finished variant its own component list and identifier. Highlight the changed items and agree the changeover and checking steps.
What happens if one kit component runs short?
State the decision in advance: pause that variant, hold incomplete packs or seek approval for a revised build. Substitution should follow an authorised specification change and any required identification review.
Choose the co-packing brief that matches the condition of your stock
Co-packing can start with loose components, already packed stock or a defined seasonal campaign. Describe the incoming condition first: the amount of preparation, sorting and approval work may be very different even when the desired finished pack looks the same.
New assembly or kitting
Provide a component list for every finished variant, quantities per pack and an approved build sequence. Include the orientation of inserts and products, not just a photograph of a closed box. Confirm how the pack will be identified and which components distinguish similar versions.
Repacking or corrective work
Show the existing stock and the exact change required. Separate satisfactory packs from items requiring sorting or investigation. Agree the acceptable method for opening, removing labels or replacing packaging, together with the condition the retained product must meet afterwards. Keep the approved change instruction with the relevant stock references.
Seasonal or promotional packing
Plan quantities by variant and the component arrival dates against the dispatch window. Identify artwork approval, sample sign-off and customer packing requirements early. If a campaign could change, set the decision date for the final build rather than leaving production to interpret a revised component mix.
Reconcile what came in and what leaves
Agree how accepted packs, rejected components, incomplete sets and surplus material are counted. State who can authorise substitution and what happens if one component runs out. A clear reconciliation makes repeat work easier to scope and exposes shortages before they become a dispatch problem.
Continue with hand packing and kitting, labelling and packaging rework or promotional packing. These are distinct job briefs; send the route closest to your stock through the enquiry form.
- Responsibility for each component
- Specifications and delivery dates
- Shortages, substitutions and surplus stock
Promotional Kit Packing: Build a Clear Bill of Materials
A promotional kit bill of materials lists every item needed for one finished pack, then scales that recipe to the planned quantities and variants. Include products, cartons, inserts, labels and finishing materials. Stockholm assesses the assembly and packing brief against the supplied stock and approved presentation; quantities, material allowances and campaign dates must be confirmed for the actual job.
- Finished-kit code and quantity for each variant
- Component reference and quantity per kit
- Supplied or sourced material responsibility