Pitch the Co Packers Opens 2027 Competition for Emerging Food and Drink Brands

Entries have opened for the 2027 edition of Pitch the Co Packers, a competition designed to connect emerging food and drink brands with manufacturing and packaging expertise.

The program was launched at London Packaging Week on September 16. Its next edition will take place at Packaging Innovations and Empack, following the competition's first edition in 2026.

Participants are expected to present product concepts, packaging challenges and growth plans to specialists familiar with the practical requirements of moving a consumer product toward larger scale manufacturing.

For early stage food and beverage companies, co packing decisions can shape far more than production capacity. Minimum order quantities, filling technology, ingredient handling, packaging compatibility, food safety systems and logistics can all determine whether a product is commercially scalable.

Competitions of this type can therefore function as a bridge between brand development and industrial execution. The value for founders depends on the quality of the manufacturing fit and the relevance of the technical guidance rather than publicity alone.

The 2027 search is now open to applicants, with the event providing a new route for young brands to put their production and packaging plans in front of industry specialists.