Label print has long been regarded as one of the industry’s strongest growth markets, with demand continuing to rise in sectors including food and drink, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and retail. Advances in digital technology, shorter run work, and the growing demand for personalisation have all helped drive investment and innovation in the sector. However, as customer expectations evolve, printers are under increasing pressure to deliver greater flexibility, faster turnaround times, and more sustainable solutions. For many businesses, investing in label production offers the opportunity to diversify services, unlock new revenue streams, and secure higher-margin work in an increasingly competitive market. 61 www.printmonthly.co.uk Issue 361 - July | August 2026 LABEL PRINTING | ROB FLETCHER Widely regarded as one of print’s stand-out areas of growth for several years, Rob Fletcher takes a closer look at label printing, examining the opportunities in this market and how businesses can succeed PUTTING A LABEL ON SUCCESS With all this in mind, we spoke with some of the leading manufacturers with interests in the label print market to find out more about the current level of demand and how investment can help print companies secure profitable work. Strong Branding Up first, Jon Pritchard, label and inkjet consultant at Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK, says label printing can still be classed as a growth market. He explains that as the buying habits for printed items changes, it is a logical process for commercial printers to change their approach to make them more robust to fluctuations in print demand. “Today, you will find most commercial printers offering wide-format, a print process that is different to, say, the production of a business card, but still a printing process that has been absorbed into the normal production life of a printer today,” he says, adding: “Labelling as with wide-format is a different print process but ultimately still a form or print, and one that can utilise existing skills within a commercial printer to enable its adoption. “Labelling is one of the print sectors that continues to grow with forecasts continuing to show growth, especially compared to conventional print. Where commercial print is impacted by electronic communication methods, food, and products still need labels with no sign of this changing in the near term. The need for manufacturers
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