Asteria Group has announced the acquisition of Mercian Labels, which becomes the group’s 41st production site. The move expands Asteria’s presence in the UK label market and strengthens its position in the European labels and packaging sector.
Based in Burntwood, Staffordshire, Mercian Labels manufactures self-adhesive labels for customers in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. The company offers flexo and digital printing capabilities, including inkjet printing and embellishment options, as well as blank labels and variable data solutions.
“We are delighted to welcome the Mercian team to Asteria,” said Ives Declerck, CEO of Asteria Group. “Mercian has earned an excellent reputation for quality, expertise and customer focus. Their capabilities complement our existing UK operations perfectly, while their strong position in food, beverage and pharmaceutical markets strengthens opportunities for future growth.”
Mercian Labels also specialises in tamper-evident and security labelling products. Its LabelLock range includes tamper-evident security labels and tapes designed to help protect products and support product integrity. Features include microtext on a clear adhesive border, an aligned void message intended to deter copying, unique sub-surface printed numbers and scannable codes on labels and tape, and resistance to temperature and chemical exposure.
The company holds AA+ BRCGS Packaging Materials certification and is certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards. Asteria said these certifications align with its sustainability and quality objectives, including its goal of becoming a sustainable leader in the label and packaging industry by 2030.
Richard Jones, general manager of Mercian Labels, told Digital Labels & Packaging: “We are delighted at Mercian Labels to be joining the Asteria Group. This marks an exciting new chapter for our business, allowing us to build on our strengths while benefiting from Asteria’s scale and expertise. With a strong alignment in our values, we remain focused on delivering the high standards our customers expect and have relied on for over 57 years.”
Founded in 1969, Mercian Labels has developed a presence in the self-adhesive label market, with a focus on customer service, technical expertise and product development. The company’s approach is described as being based on collaboration and responsiveness to customer requirements.
Asteria said it looks forward to integrating Mercian’s employees, customers and partners into the wider group and building on the company’s existing operations.
