Food & Beverage Packaging Manufacturer

Our Process

From concept to consumer, engineered in-house

Structural Design

Custom dielines built for shelf impact, easy fulfillment, and efficient use of materials.

Press Check Support

On-site or remote color control that holds consistency from first run to global scale.

Rapid Prototyping

Fast, high-fidelity samples to validate structure, finish, and form before production.

Material Consulting

Guidance on substrates, coatings, and finishes that balance design with sustainability.

Artwork Prepress & QA

Expert prep and proofing to deliver flawless production and protect brand integrity.

Packaging Engineered

Structural expertise that ensures every carton performs beautifully — from concept to consumer.

Why Arkay

Premium Packaging for Food and Beverage Brands

When a retail buyer opens a supplier questionnaire on your food or beverage line, it isn't the copy on your website that answers — it's the certifications on your packaging supplier's audit report. Arkay brings BRCGS packaging safety and EcoVadis Platinum to the vertical, so your carton and its paperwork can pass the same review. Our carbon-neutral facility in Roanoke, Virginia produces every job under one roof: no offshore lead time, no supply-chain surprises, no third-party finishing handoffs.

Three things define how we partner with brand teams:

Color that holds, run to run. Our G7 color management certification means a signature shade stays consistent regardless of run size — critical when your color is the brand.

Sample-to-production fidelity. Our proprietary Paint on Press process tests up to 20 finish variations on the production press before commitment, closing the gap between a beautiful mock-up and what arrives at scale.

Verifiable sustainability. EcoVadis Platinum recognition (top 1% globally, held consecutively since 2022) and triple-certified paperboard back every claim we make.

Primary versus secondary cosmetic packaging

What We Make

Primary vs. Secondary Food & Nutraceuticals Packaging: What We Make

Food, beverage and nutraceuticals packaging comes in two layers. Primary packaging is the container that touches the product: the pouch, jar, bottle, or liner. Secondary packaging is the printed folding carton that surrounds it: the box on the shelf, in the unboxing, and in the photo.

Arkay specializes in that second layer: custom printed folding cartons. It's the piece that carries your brand story, captures attention at point of purchase, and signals quality before the product is ever opened.

That focus is a strength, not a limitation. Decades of working exclusively in finish-led cartons is why brands trust us with the packaging that represents them.

Capabilities

Custom Food and Beverage Folding Cartons

Custom Food & Beverage Folding Cartons

Food and beverage packaging has to survive two audiences: the retail buyer's compliance questionnaire and the consumer's eye on shelf. Arkay engineers every carton on premium SBS paperboard with the credentials retailers now expect — BRCGS packaging safety certification, food-contact-appropriate substrates, and traceable paper sourcing throughout the supply chain.

Finishing & Decoration Options

Tactile signals travel faster than typography. Before a shopper reads a nutrition panel or an ingredient list, they feel the paper stock, register the foil weight, and process the depth of an emboss — that's where premium reads as premium. Arkay's in-house decoration covers foil stamping, embossing and debossing, spot varnishes, and specialty coatings, all executed under one roof so the finish that made your reference sample holds through a full production run.

Color Precision & Sample-to-Production Fidelity

A multi-flavor food or beverage line has to look like the same brand family on shelf, whether it's launching in a national grocery chain or a regional specialty retailer. G7 color management and Paint on Press are how we keep every SKU inside brand tolerance — from a first proof through a full production run, every carton reads the same when it lands next to itself on the shelf. Substrate integrity matters too: paperboard is a natural material with a shelf life of its own, and specifying the wrong grade for the wrong runtime can cost you launch dates.

"What may work on one substrate doesn't work on another substrate unless you've got the technical prowess."

— Mitchell Kaneff, Chairman & CEO, Arkay

For teams still shaping the structural direction, our Hauppauge Design Studio can take a first concept to a physical, retail-quality mock-up inside a week — same substrate, same finishing, tuned to your actual retail context.

Sustainable Packaging

Sustainable Food and Beverage Packaging

Every year, the sustainability bar for food and beverage packaging rises — new EPR regulations, retailer scorecards demanding chain-of-custody documentation, consumer-facing recycling claims that have to survive third-party review. Arkay handles that pressure by anchoring every claim to a specific, named certification rather than category-generic marketing language.

BRCGS packaging safety certification meets the standard retailers require for food-contact secondary packaging — the first credential most food and nutra buyers ask for. Beyond BRCGS: paperboard sourcing is triple-certified through FSC, SFI, and PEFC (chain-of-custody documented, responsibly managed forests); operations are CarbonNeutral® certified with annual third-party emissions review; and EcoVadis Platinum recognition places Arkay in the top 1% of manufacturers globally across the full ESG footprint.

Explore our sustainability practices →

FSC · SFI · PEFC

Triple-certified paperboard

CarbonNeutral®

Certified operations

Top 1%

EcoVadis Platinum, globally

In their words

“It’s so refreshing to see a company of your size roll up your sleeves and do whatever it takes to win a client, service a client and most important come through when you’re needed, desperately. Having now worked with you from conception to delivery, you guys get 5 stars for performing at every gate and/or phase.”

Laura Slatkin

Nest Fragrances

“We partnered with Arkay on the outer cartons across several of our SKUs, and the project couldn’t have been more important—it was the first introduction of Hampton Sun’s new rebranded look after many years. Arkay made the entire process seamless and exceeded our expectations at every stage. Their team is highly knowledgeable, attentive, and efficient, delivering beautiful results on a tight timeline. The finished cartons were absolutely stunning and captured exactly what we envisioned. This was truly a make-or-break project for us, and Arkay played a key role in bringing our rebrand to life.”

Ellie Politidis

Hampton Sun

“The press run was great, and I loved the tour. Mike and Ryan were amazing to work with—they really know their craft, and they were friendly and accommodating to any request. You really have a great facility and community there.”

Michael Weinstein

Nécessaire

“We chose to partner with Arkay because of Josh’s relentless attention to detail and outstanding customer support. From the very beginning, he made sure we felt heard and confident in the process, and his diligence left no doubt about the outcome. That level of assurance is extraordinarily rare in a supplier. As a small business, we’ve had to make last-minute changes, and every time the Arkay team has gone above and beyond to accommodate us. They consistently nail the colors, deliver exceptional quality, and treat us with genuine care. The people are second to none—period.”

Nate Meadow

The Absorption Company

“I was very impressed with your collective organization, the articulate detail with which all shared the highlights of their respective organization and focus area, the current and competitive nature of all Arkay processes and systems. Clearly, all in the organization shared the same objective and vision and were involved in delivering on the same. Your utilization of Goodwill is excellent. This set a very good example for the community, and delivers a great product for EA. Your site cleanliness and organization was evident, and I encourage you to maintain same. This is a real demonstration of a tight and organized business and sets the tone for interactions and how each area runs their business. ”

Elizabeth Arden

Forry Weatherby

“Packaging just recently showed me what you were able to achieve on the old Cyber White line to allow these cartons to combo in with our new Crystal Line. You and your team deserve some congratulations and thanks for the effort and the way that you worked with our design and packaging groups to allow these two important lines to merge. This allowed us to retain the older line at much smaller numbers without impacting the cost to the brand. We are quick in this day and age to criticize – but rarely do we take the time to praise. Thank you and your Team for the effort. It was and is appreciated.”

Larry Frey

Estée Lauder Companies

Read our success stories →

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What packaging certifications does Arkay have for food and beverage brands?

Arkay holds BRCGS packaging safety certification — the standard most large retailers require for food-contact secondary packaging — along with EcoVadis Platinum recognition (top 1% of manufacturers globally), triple-certified paperboard sourcing (FSC, SFI, PEFC), CarbonNeutral® operations, and G7 color management certification. Certifications are a starting point, not a marketing line — every food and beverage project ships with the credentials our clients need to answer their own retailer and regulatory reviews.

Can Arkay produce packaging suitable for food-contact and regulated products?

Yes — with a specific scope. Arkay manufactures folding cartons and other secondary packaging (the outer carton that carries the brand on shelf), not primary containers that touch the food itself. Our paperboard substrates are appropriate for food-contact secondary use, and our BRCGS certification confirms Arkay's manufacturing process meets the safety standards food and beverage brands need for regulated categories. For each project, we align substrate and coating choices to your product's specific compliance requirements.

What paperboard grades work best for food and beverage folding cartons?

The right grade depends on the product, the shelf life, and the finishing you plan to layer on top. Premium SBS paperboard is the default for high-end food and beverage cartons because it holds fine printing and finishing detail with the whitest brightness. Coated recycled board and lower-basis-weight options work well for cost-sensitive line extensions where the finishing effect is simpler. Our team scopes the substrate against your color, structure, and runtime needs before the first proof.

How does Arkay handle the sustainability credentials major food retailers require?

Sustainability requirements from retailers usually come as a list — a specific certification, a chain-of-custody claim, or a carbon disclosure. Arkay anchors every response to a named certification: FSC, SFI, or PEFC on paperboard sourcing; CarbonNeutral® on operations; EcoVadis Platinum on overall ESG performance. When a retailer sends a supplier questionnaire, our team returns the documentation directly, without a category-generic marketing answer.

Can Arkay support both premium chocolate launches and multi-SKU beverage lines?

Yes. Vertical integration is what makes multi-SKU coordination workable — press, finishing, and quality control sit under one roof, so color and structural consistency carry across variants and pack sizes without third-party handoffs. For a premium chocolate launch, that means finishing detail (foil stamping, embossing, specialty coatings) stays true to the artwork intent. For a multi-flavor beverage line, that means every carton reads as the same brand family on shelf.

Why do food and beverage brands choose a US-based folding carton manufacturer?

Food-safety documentation is easier to maintain when the packaging is manufactured domestically — chain of custody stays inside a single jurisdiction, supplier audits happen in-person with the actual retailer or brand team, and BRCGS certification paperwork sits with a US-based supplier rather than requiring international coordination. Arkay produces every food and beverage carton at its carbon-neutral facility in Roanoke, Virginia, which also removes the ocean-freight leg from launch timelines that can otherwise push a window by a full quarter.

Food, Beverage & Nutraceutical Packaging

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