Welcome to the December edition of UNBOXED.
As we approach the end of the year, we're turning our attention to the sixth stage of our Eight-Step Solution Cycle: Supply, while also reflecting on the progress, people, and partnerships that have shaped the past twelve months.
Dec 19, 2025
Step 6 of the VPK Eight-Step Solution Cycle is where packaging performance is proven day after day. After design, validation, and production, this stage focuses on ensuring customers receive consistent, reliable supply that aligns with their operational and logistics realities.
Supply is about more than availability. It's about planning ahead for demand peaks, aligning forecasts, coordinating across sites, and maintaining service levels that customers can rely on. From localised production and efficient inbound logistics to real-time visibility and contingency planning, Step 6 ensures packaging arrives on time, in full, and ready to perform.
Read the full Step 6 blog here: VPK UKI Blog - Step 6
To bring Step 6 to life, our latest Fictional Brands blog explores how a national beer brewer would experience the Supply stage in practice.
The piece looks at how packaging supply is planned around seasonal peaks, promotions, and fast-moving operations, ensuring continuity across multiple formats, from transit cases to shelf-ready packaging. It also highlights the importance of aligning packaging supply with logistics networks, warehouse constraints, and production schedules.
The result is a supply chain approach that prioritises predictability, flexibility, and partnership, keeping brewery operations moving without disruption. Read the full blog here: VPK UKI Blog - Step 6
This month also marked an important milestone for VPK in Ireland with the appointment of Noel Maguire as Plant General Manager at our Limerick site.
Noel brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across recycling, packaging, and food industries. His appointment reinforces VPK's long-term commitment to manufacturing in Ireland, for Ireland, strengthening local capability while supporting customers with reliable high-quality supply.
With a strong focus on people, performance, and continuous improvement, Noel will work closely with the site management team to continue driving the Limerick operation forward as a key part of VPK's Irish and UK network. Read the full story here: VPK UKI Appoints new PGM for Limerick
As we close out 2025, we want to thank our customers, partners, and colleagues for their continued trust and collaboration. This year has seen strong progress across operations, logistics, sustainability, and people, and we look forward to building on that momentum in 2026.
From all of us at VPK UK and Ireland, we wish you a happy festive season and a happy, successful New Year.
We'll be back in January as we continue the journey through the Eight-Step Solution Cycle and explore how smarter packaging supports real-world performance across supply chains.
