Customer: Yorkshire Speciality Foods, Old Hardisty Smokery
Industry: Food Packaging
Service: Sustainable Carton Packaging Solutions
Project Outcomes
- Secured a reliable carton packaging supply for Yorkshire Speciality Foods, a premium food brand supplying retailers including Waitrose and Booths.
- Delivered a seamless transition to a new carton packaging supplier, preventing disruption to food production and retail supply.
- Provided high-quality printed carton packaging that protects premium food products and supports strong shelf presentation.
- Restored supply chain confidence with transparent pricing, production updates and dependable delivery schedules.
- Enabled development of premium retail packaging concepts to support food shows, independent retailers and direct-to-consumer sales.
- Established a long-term packaging partnership focused on responsive service, problem-solving and consistent print quality.
The Customer
Yorkshire Speciality Foods is a Yorkshire-based, family-owned business supplying premium retailers and a direct-to-consumer high-end range.
Operating from a SALSA-approved production facility, it places significant emphasis on food safety, operational control and dependable supply.
It supplies major retailers, including Waitrose and Booths, as well as independent stockists and consumers through food shows and specialist markets.
The Challenge: Finding a Dependable Packaging Supplier
A reliable carton packaging supplier is essential in this market, as packaging plays a critical role in protecting the product, maintaining brand integrity, displaying key product information, and supporting efficient planning and distribution.
When its previous packaging supplier went through a merger, Yorkshire Speciality Foods experienced a decline in supplier reliability. The consequences were immediate as the packaging failed to arrive, leaving the business with no alternative but to seek a new carton packaging partner.
The Search for a New Partner
Yorkshire Speciality Foods went out to tender, engaging with five packaging companies. At the top of its priority list were:
- Responsiveness
- Problem-solving capability
- Consistent, high-quality output
- Speed of transition
- A genuine long-term partnership mindset
Having previously been impacted by suppliers offering low first-year pricing followed by steep increases, the business was clear that it wanted transparency and a partner committed to working with them for the long term.
Andrew Butler-Craine, Managing Director at Yorkshire Speciality Foods Ltd, explained that Harrison Packaging stood out across every requirement.
He said, “Harrison Packaging stood out for us across several key areas, particularly their service, their ability to react quickly in high-pressure situations, and their logistical proximity. Having a partner who can respond quickly and work closely with us makes a real difference to our operations.”
With years of experience in the sector and a focus on long-term customer relationships rather than short-term pricing, Harrison Packaging aligned closely with the requirements of Yorkshire Speciality Foods.
As a result, the transition was seamless, enabling the business to stabilise supply and continue meeting customer demand.
The Result – Supporting Retail Growth with Premium Packaging
Harrison Packaging is now the sole carton packaging supplier across the Old Hardisty ranges.
With Yorkshire Speciality Foods attending premium food shows and expanding its direct-to-consumer offering, our design team is working closely with the business to develop innovative, high-end packaging concepts that reflect the brand’s quality and heritage.
Andrew also highlighted the value of the transparency provided by Harrison Packaging, which offers full visibility across pricing, production, purchasing, and dispatch, supporting day-to-day operational planning.
Less than a year into the relationship, he said, “The transparency of information from Harrison Packaging is a lifesaver for the business. It gives us complete visibility and allows us to plan with confidence.”
The partnership has restored confidence in supply, helping to protect the Yorkshire Speciality Foods brand while enabling innovative packaging concepts and supporting future growth.
To learn more about our carton packaging solutions, contact us at 01642 754600 or email sales@harrisonpack.com.