Food and drink businesses from across the region are being invited to join a new network launching this October. The Greater Manchester Food and Drink Network will bring together manufacturers together to trade insights, forge international routes to market and showcase the innovation driving one of the region’s most important sectors.

The Greater Manchester Food and Drink Network, a semi-annual initiative from GM Business Growth Hub, will hold its launch event in Wigan, inviting manufacturers, suppliers and industry leaders to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the sector’s future while supporting collaboration, innovation and international growth.

Packaging as a growth lever

Keynote speaker Mark Holmes, will open the session by examining the strategic role packaging plays in modern manufacturing, from enhancing customer experience to strengthening brand value and improving operational efficiency.

Mark Holmes, Managing Director / General Manager at Smurfit Westrock, said:

“Packaging is not simply about wrapping a product. It is a core element of branding and shapes customer perception. Good packaging communicates your brand value and pushes sales,” Holmes said. “The manufacturers we work with often want a strategic approach for their packaging that can perform multiple functions, from protecting and storing goods in a cost-effective way but also influence purchasing decisions and promote their brand. I’m looking forward to sharing practical examples of how businesses can unlock greater value through smarter packaging decisions.”

The scalability of niche products

Attendees will also hear from Tom Fletcher of Firstplay Dietary Foods, a fast-growing family-owned manufacturer that has successfully built a competitive advantage by specialising in a niche market. They will find out how a focused growth strategy has shaped Firstplay Dietary Foods’s journey of sustained success and what this means for businesses ready to think beyond the UK.