Contract Manufacturing + Packaging magazine is the official publication of the CPA, The Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers. The association provides business development support, industry education, networking opportunities, and industry intelligence for contract packagers and contract manufacturers.
This article dedicated to sharing how CPA members can leverage their membership to propel their business and empower operations.
For more information on becoming a CPA member and to gain access to industry expertise, best practices, and support, visit: contractpackaging.org
CPA Show and Conference Schedule
ENGAGE – The Contract Packaging and Manufacturing Experience
In early March, CPA, The Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers hosted its largest networking opportunity and conference for the contract manufacturing and packaging (CM&P) industry, its customers, and suppliers.
More than 150 attendees joined the three-day, in-person meeting in Clearwater Beach, Fla., which connected contract packagers and manufacturers with OEM suppliers and CPGs.
Through interactive panel discussions with CPGs, as well as informative sessions on cybersecurity, workforce development, mergers and acquisitions, and the state of the industry, CM&Ps were given insight into where the industry is headed and the challenges that lie ahead.
The CPA attended Natural Products Expo West as its first trade show of 2022 in March. The CPA booth was a place for industry peers and professionals to connect with the CPA Sourcing Center, showcasing three towers’ worth of member products and materials.
PACK EXPO East 2022
Following Natural Products Expo West, the CPA attended PACK EXPO East in Philadelphia. The CPA is always very pleased with the attendance and energy from exhibitors and attendees at PACK EXPO East. At its booth, the association showcased four towers’ worth of its members’ capabilities and hosted a meet and greet reception for networking.
If you’re looking for a refresher on the foundations of packaging, The Packaging School offers just that. Composed of 12 online courses, the Professional Certificate of Packaging teaches the materials, processes, and influences shaping the advancement of the packaging industry. CPA members receive a 10% discount on the total cost of all courses.
If you’re more interested in remote shop floor best practices and technology training, CPA members get complimentary access to Nulogy University, an online education platform that provides users with the training and education to understand the CM&P industries.
Lastly, CPA Members have the benefit of taking advantage of PMMI U’s TechEd 365 courses at the PMMI member rate. PMMI’s online technical training courses provide consistent and repeatable content that is convenient and affordable, tailored to the packaging and processing industries.
The CPA’s 2021 Contract Packaging State of the Industry Report is still available. This expanded, comprehensive report, now in its sixth edition, combines more than 150 online executive interviews, plus quantitative and qualitative primary and secondary research to produce a more detailed view of the CM&P industry, including its opportunities, headwinds, and evolving future.
As a CPA member, a copy of the executive summary of the 2021 report is included as a part of your membership fees.
The report provides 180 pages of information and perspective on the CM&P industry. Investors, vendors, customers, and competitors are all seeking a competitive advantage, and that edge begins with the information provided by this report.
The full report covers topics including:
Defining the food/CPG industry by scope and revenue
Industry CAGR 2021–2025 by sector
Post-pandemic trends
The continued expansion of private equity
Industry consolidation trends
Customer views on the changing marketplace
The current labor market and widening talent gap
Demographics on size, company age, locations, and revenue
Enterprise technology implementations and penetration rates
Offshore- and Mexico-based competition
Sustainability trends
Do you want to learn more before investing in the full report? You can order the executive summary for a high-level overview of the report findings. If you decide to order the full report after reading the executive summary, the cost of the executive summary will be credited toward your purchase of the full report. CPA members receive the executive summary of this report for free and can purchase the full report at a 50% discount.
Hiring remains a major challenge in packaging, with 78% struggling to fill unskilled roles and 84% lacking experienced workers. As automation grows, companies must rethink hiring and training. Download the full report for key insights.
What's in store for CPGs in 2025 and beyond? Packaging World editors explore the survey responses from 118 brand owners, CPG, and FMCG Packaging World readers for its new Annual Outlook Report.
