Member Spotlight: Fortoak Group

BOSS welcomes Fortoak Group to membership. We caught up with the team to learn more about the business, its investment in UK manufacturing and the opportunities it sees as part of the BOSS community.

What does the business do?

Fortoak Ltd and UK Labels provide a broad range of manufactured and converted paper products to customers across the UK & Ireland.

We specialise in the manufacture of plain and custom-printed labels in both A4 sheet and roll formats, alongside the conversion and custom printing of greaseproof papers. The Group is also a major wholesaler of paper rolls for POS and EFTPOS applications, direct thermal linerless labels and a broad range of restaurant order pads.

Our combination of UK manufacturing, specialist converting capabilities and extensive stockholding enables us to support customers with both high-volume standard products and bespoke requirements. We work extensively with trade customers and distributors, providing a reliable supply partner across multiple product categories from a single group.

When and how was the business established?

The Fortoak and UK Labels brands both have a heritage stretching back more than 40 years, having originally been established as privately owned businesses by their respective founders.

A new chapter began in October 2023 with the formation of Fortoak Ltd and the Fortoak Group. The objective was to build on that established heritage while creating a broader, more ambitious manufacturing and distribution business.

Since then, the Group has brought together complementary businesses, products and expertise, while investing significantly in its people, facilities, technology and manufacturing capabilities. This provides a strong platform from which we can continue to develop the Fortoak and UK Labels brands and expand the products and services we offer our customers.
 

Simon McCouaig, Managing Director, Fortoak Group

Simon McCouaig leads the Fortoak Group and brings extensive experience within the paper industry. Under his leadership, the Group has invested significantly in UK manufacturing, technology, facilities and operational capability, supporting the continued development of the Fortoak and UK Labels brands while expanding the products and services offered to customers across the UK and Ireland.

How has the business developed since its inception?

The development of the Fortoak Group has accelerated considerably since its formation in 2023.

In September 2024, the Group acquired Pad Printers, a leading UK manufacturer of restaurant order pads, followed in June 2025 by UK Labels, a leading specialist manufacturer of A4 labels.

Following the UK Labels acquisition, we consolidated the Group's operations at our Oldbury site, which now houses our head office, administrative functions, manufacturing operations and pick-and-pack warehouse.

We have subsequently undertaken a significant investment programme across the site. This has included a complete refurbishment of the office facilities, new communications infrastructure, the implementation of a cloud-based ERP system, and expansion of our warehousing capacity with additional units, new racking, upgraded lighting and facilities, with a particular emphasis on Health & Safety and creating an improved working environment for our team.

Alongside this operational investment, we have rebranded the businesses and launched new websites for both Fortoak and UK Labels, creating a stronger and more consistent identity for the Group. Both websites continue to evolve as we expand our product offering and improve the way customers can discover products, access information and do business with us online.

Our investment in manufacturing is continuing. To support the growth of UK Labels, we have recently ordered new printing presses and packing lines, increasing capacity while improving productivity and efficiency across our label operations.

We are also currently deploying a new dedicated label manufacturing ERP software solution. This will provide greater visibility and control across our manufacturing processes, helping us to improve planning, increase efficiency and further enhance our speed and responsiveness to customers.

We have also invested in new finishing capabilities to support our expansion into custom-printed greaseproof paper, providing another complementary product category for both existing and new customers.

A key part of our strategy is a continued commitment to UK manufacturing. At a time when many product categories have increasingly moved towards an import-led model, we believe there remains a strong role for responsive, competitive and flexible UK manufacturing. Being closer to our customers allows us to respond quickly, develop bespoke solutions and provide greater flexibility across both short and high-volume production runs.

Importantly, our investment programme does not stop here. We have a clear strategic roadmap of further projects and investments designed to continually improve our manufacturing capabilities, systems, efficiency and customer experience as the Group develops.

Our strategy is to continue investing in UK manufacturing, technology, people, our brands and operational capability, while identifying complementary products and opportunities that add genuine value for our customers and position the Fortoak Group for its next phase of growth.
 

What achievements or specialisms is the company particularly proud of?

UK Labels has built its reputation over more than four decades as a specialist in the manufacture of A4 labels, and this remains an important part of our identity and expertise.

One of our key strengths is the breadth of our range. We carry thousands of A4 label SKUs, enabling us to support the trade with an extensive choice of sizes, formats, materials and applications, backed by specialist manufacturing knowledge and significant stockholding.

At the same time, our roll-label capabilities are expanding rapidly and represent a key area of future growth for the business. Our continued investment in new presses, equipment and capacity will enable us to offer an increasingly comprehensive solution across both sheet and roll label formats.

Behind that capability is considerable industry experience. Our directors have spent their entire careers within the paper industry, with extensive backgrounds in manufacturing, converting and supplying paper-based products. That depth of knowledge influences how we invest, develop products and, importantly, understand and respond to the requirements of our customers.

We are particularly proud of combining this experience and the heritage of UK Labels with the investment and ambition of the wider Fortoak Group. Alongside our established label capabilities, we continue to develop our expertise across POS and EFTPOS rolls, restaurant pads and custom-printed greaseproof paper.

Central to that development is our belief in the value of British manufacturing. By investing in our own manufacturing capabilities, equipment and people, we can offer customers greater control, flexibility and responsiveness while continuing to develop specialist products around their requirements.

Our aim is not simply to offer more products, but to make it easier for our trade customers to consolidate their requirements with a knowledgeable, responsive UK-based manufacturing and supply partner.
 

Alex Vergopoulos

Chairman

Simon McCouaig

Managing Director

Reanne Winward

Director

Why has the company decided to join BOSS?

We already have established relationships with a number of BOSS members, so becoming part of the Federation felt like a natural next step for Fortoak and UK Labels.

We see strong alignment between our capabilities and the requirements of BOSS members, particularly across A4 labels, custom labels, POS and EFTPOS rolls, restaurant pads and specialist printed paper products.

We believe there is a significant opportunity to bring our manufacturing expertise, extensive product range and trade-focused approach to the wider BOSS membership. Equally, we want to become an active participant in the Federation, developing relationships, sharing knowledge and gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing businesses across the sector.

Ultimately, we see BOSS membership as an opportunity to build long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with fellow members rather than simply promote individual products.

What aspects of BOSS's offerings is the company most looking forward to utilising, and why?

We are particularly looking forward to networking, attending BOSS events and engaging directly with other members.

As a Group that is actively investing and developing its product offering, staying close to the market is extremely important to us. BOSS provides an opportunity to better understand industry trends, emerging customer requirements and potential gaps in the market where our manufacturing and sourcing capabilities could add value.

We are also keen to exchange ideas and expertise with other members. Some of the most interesting opportunities often come from conversations around a particular customer requirement or product challenge, and our manufacturing flexibility means we can potentially help members develop solutions in areas that may previously have been difficult to source.

Above all, we want to be an active member of the BOSS community, building relationships and exploring opportunities where collaboration can create value for our respective businesses and, ultimately, our customers.

Website addresses

www.fortoak.co.uk

www.uklabels.com