London Packaging Week 2024 sets new attendance record

London Packaging Week 2024 has set a new attendance record, solidifying its position as the premier event for packaging innovation across beauty, luxury, food, drink and FMCG sectors.

Easyfairs UK, the leading multi-format event organiser, has confirmed that 2024’s London Packaging Week, held at the prestigious ExCeL London International Exhibition and Convention Centre, attracted a record-breaking number of visitors with more than 5,000 passing through the event’s doors over two days in September. This marks a new milestone in the event's 12-year history, underlining its importance as a pivotal gathering for the packaging industry.

Originally launched over a decade ago as Packaging Innovations & Luxury Packaging London, the event has evolved into a dynamic platform for brands, packaging designers, technologists, and suppliers to connect and innovate. The 2024 edition featured more than 190 exhibitors, showcasing cutting-edge products and solutions designed to shape the future of packaging across multiple sectors, including beauty, luxury, food, drink, and FMCG.

London Packaging Week 2024 celebrated its most successful edition to date, attracting a record number of industry professionals from diverse and influential roles. Key job functions represented among the attendees included managing directors, general managers, founders, CEOs, creative directors, packaging designers, and sales and business development leaders. This broad spectrum of decision-makers and innovators underscores the event's growing importance as a hub for networking, collaboration, and inspiration in the packaging industry.

The event was attended by a diverse array of industry professionals, including managing directors, CEOs, and creative directors, highlighting its role as a networking and collaboration hub. Attendees valued opportunities to discover new products, with 70% prioritising innovation and 54% seeking new suppliers. The inaugural London Packaging Week Innovation Awards celebrated standout designs, including Bowmore ARC-52 Mokume and Coca-Cola’s label-free Sprite Naked, showcasing the industry's commitment to forward-thinking solutions.

Key decision-makers from global brands such as McDonald's, Burberry, and Diageo participated, emphasizing the event's appeal. The Ambassador Lounge provided an exclusive space for high-profile networking among attendees from Tesco, Dyson, and Disney, further enhancing the event’s prestige.

“I believe London Packaging Week has a great impact within the design and packaging community,” said Tiago Russo, Chief Design Officer, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. “The overall quality of the exhibitors is very good, and the additional content such as the talks, discussion panels, etc. adds a lot of interest to the show and helps to showcase, educate, and bring added value to the fields of design, packaging and ultimately product development.”

London Packaging Week 2024 proved to be an irresistible draw for some of the world's biggest and most influential brands, reinforcing its status as the premier event for the global packaging industry. Attendees included major players across multiple sectors, from fast-moving consumer goods giants like McDonald's, Burger King, PepsiCo, and Mars, to luxury brands such as Burberry, Harrods, and Jo Malone. The event’s magnetic pull extended into the premium drinks sector, with names like Diageo, Pernod Ricard, and Bacardi taking part, alongside cosmetics icons like Estee Lauder, Charlotte Tilbury, and The Body Shop.

Adding to the elite experience, the Ambassador Lounge provided a dedicated space for high-profile attendees to connect, unwind, and network in an exclusive setting. Muhammad Usman, Procurement Manager, PZ Cussons, added: “This is my third year coming to London Packaging Week, I come every year! I noticed every year it goes more towards sustainability and carbon neutral which is a good thing. I’m here to find a recycled type of material and have found a lot of exhibitors providing this.”

“This show has been fantastic for us,” said Sebastian Clifton-Welker, Key Account Director at Meadow. “We've attracted interest from both small businesses and large multinational corporations, including Unilever, Harrods, and PZ Cussons, all looking to incorporate our solutions into their portfolios.”

"This year's record-breaking attendance underscores the growing significance of London Packaging Week as a critical hub for innovation and collaboration across the packaging supply chain," added James Montero MacColl. "We are proud to have brought together key players from the beauty, luxury, food, drink, and FMCG sectors under one roof, facilitating important discussions and paving the way for future advancements in packaging."

Easyfairs is already hinting at exciting developments for next year's London Packaging Week, which will return to ExCeL across 15 & 16 October 2025.

Don't miss out on the next UK event—Packaging Innovations & Empack, the UK's flagship packaging exhibition, taking place at Birmingham's NEC on 12 & 13 February 2025. Join industry leaders and innovators to explore the latest trends and advancements in packaging. Secure your place today and be part of the conversation shaping the future of packaging!