CPA and F4SS Merge to Form Industry's Most Powerful Resource for CPG Contract Manufacturers and Brand Owners

The Contract Packaging Association (CPA) has merged with The Foundation for Supply Chain Solutions (F4SS) to create the industry's most powerful resource for food/CPG contract manufacturers and brand owners navigating complex CPG environments. The combined organization serves hundreds of member companies across the external manufacturing, contract packaging, and brand owner spectrum. The strategic move addresses the industry's growth and disruption, with private labels commanding 25% of total CPG sales, emerging brands reshaping consumer expectations, and regulatory requirements tightening around food safety, sustainability, and labeling.

The Contract Packaging Association (CPA) has announced a strategic merger with The Foundation for Supply Chain Solutions (F4SS) to create a comprehensive resource for food/CPG contract manufacturers and brand owners. The combined organization aims to navigate the complexities of the CPG market, which is projected to reach $130 billion by 2028 [1].

The move comes as the food/CPG industry experiences unprecedented growth and disruption, with private labels commanding 25% of total CPG sales, emerging brands reshaping consumer expectations, and regulatory requirements tightening around food safety, sustainability, and labeling [1]. The integration of CPA's 30-year legacy in contract packaging with F4SS's specialized expertise in supply chain optimization delivers immediate benefits, including deeper industry intelligence, broader network access, regulatory navigation, and innovation acceleration [1].

The combined membership base of hundreds of companies across the external manufacturing, contract packaging, and brand owner spectrum will benefit from the merger. Current F4SS members will automatically receive full CPA membership benefits, while CPA members will gain access to F4SS's strategic sourcing tools and benchmarking resources [1]. The integration is set to be completed by September 2025.

Separately, Carbery Group has launched the Horizon 10 initiative to guide food innovation and growth for the next decade. The program is guided by three pillars—food, geography, and technology—and aims to support collaborative innovation by identifying insights for the future of food, markets, and technology [2]. The initiative reflects Carbery's commitment to long-term thinking and strategic partnerships.

These strategic moves by CPA and Carbery Group highlight the industry's focus on addressing complexity and driving innovation to meet evolving consumer demands and regulatory requirements.

References:
[1] https://www.packagingstrategies.com/articles/105831-contract-packaging-association-expands-through-strategic-combination-with-f4ss
[2] https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/horizon-10-initiative-from-carbery-group-aims-to-guide-food-innovation-and-growth-for-the-next-decade