As we move into 2026, food, beverage and pharmaceutical manufacturers in Ireland are navigating a combination of regulatory change, labour pressure, rising compliance costs and increasing customer scrutiny.
Labelling, once treated as a downstream packaging task, is increasingly recognised as a critical control point for compliance, traceability and brand protection.
The following predictions outline how labelling requirements and expectations are likely to evolve in 2026, and what Irish manufacturers should be preparing for now.
1. GS1 Sunrise 2027 begins to influence investment decisions
While GS1 Sunrise 2027 is not a regulatory deadline, it is increasingly shaping retailer expectations across Ireland, the UK and wider EU markets. Many major retailers are signalling a move toward greater use of 2D codes and richer product data over the coming years.
What this is likely to mean in 2026:
More manufacturers begin planning labelling upgrades with 2D capability in mind, particularly on lines supplying retail or export markets. Demand grows for print and apply systems that can handle variable data and future traceability requirements without full line replacement.
2. Vision inspection continues to gain ground as standard practice
Retail audits and customer quality standards in Ireland are becoming more detailed, particularly around barcode readability, date coding and allergen accuracy. While vision inspection is not mandated, reliance on manual checks is increasingly viewed as higher risk.
What this is likely to mean in 2026:
Vision inspection is specified more frequently on new or upgraded lines, including among small and medium producers. Manufacturers increasingly value automated verification and retained inspection data as part of audit preparation and recall prevention.
3. Labour pressures expose the limits of semi-automation
Labour availability remains a challenge for many Irish food and beverage manufacturers. In response, some businesses have historically turned to semi-automatic labelling as a lower-cost way to reduce manual handling.
However, as compliance requirements, SKU counts and traceability expectations increase, the limitations of semi-automation are becoming more apparent.
What this is likely to mean in 2026:
Manufacturers increasingly recognise that semi-automatic solutions can struggle to scale. More businesses begin planning beyond interim fixes and look toward fully automatic or upgrade-ready systems that reduce operator dependency and support long-term growth. In many cases, the total cost of ownership of semi-automatic systems becomes less attractive as production complexity increases.
4. Traceability expectations extend beyond minimum compliance
Irish manufacturers supplying major retailers or export markets are seeing growing expectations around traceability, allergen transparency and faster access to batch information, particularly in the event of an issue.
What this is likely to mean in 2026:
Labelling systems are more often integrated with ERP, MES or weigh-scale systems to reduce manual data entry and minimise error. Manufacturers increasingly prioritise solutions that support accurate, repeatable data capture at source.
5. Pharma and nutraceutical producers adopt enhanced identification approaches
Outside of fully regulated pharmaceutical serialisation, Irish pharma and nutraceutical producers are increasingly focused on internal traceability, recall readiness and brand protection.
What this is likely to mean in 2026:
More lines adopt 2D codes containing batch and expiry information to support internal tracking and downstream visibility, without implementing full serialisation frameworks where they are not required.
6. Sustainable packaging continues to complicate labelling performance
Sustainability targets across Ireland and the EU are driving the use of lighter, recyclable and flexible packaging materials. While positive from an environmental perspective, these formats can introduce challenges for label application, adhesion and consistency.
What this is likely to mean in 2026:
Manufacturers increasingly look for labelling systems that can adapt to changing materials and shorter runs. There is also growing interest in linerless labelling as a way to reduce waste and improve material efficiency, particularly in high-volume applications. As a result, adjustable, modular systems that can accommodate different label formats, including linerless, are becoming more attractive as sustainability and performance goals converge.
7. Manufacturers demand clearer visibility into line performance
Irish food, beverage and pharma manufacturers are under increasing pressure to improve uptime, reduce waste and respond quickly when issues occur on the line. Labelling is no longer viewed in isolation, but as a contributor to overall line efficiency.
What this is likely to mean in 2026:
Manufacturers place greater value on labelling systems that provide visibility into performance, fault causes and reject reasons. Access to clear, actionable data supports better operational decisions, faster troubleshooting and more informed planning around maintenance and upgrades.
8. Shorter runs drive demand for faster, simpler changeovers
SKU proliferation, private label production and seasonal ranges continue to increase across food and beverage manufacturing in Ireland.
What this is likely to mean in 2026:
Manufacturers place greater emphasis on quick changeover capability, recipe-driven setups and operator-friendly adjustment. Time saved during changeovers increasingly features in ROI discussions.
9. Allergen labelling accuracy remains a high-risk focus area
Allergen-related recalls remain one of the most significant risks for Irish food manufacturers. Retailers and auditors continue to focus heavily on accuracy, legibility and consistency.
What this is likely to mean in 2026:
More manufacturers combine printing and verification to reduce the risk of incorrect allergen information. QR codes may increasingly be used to link to extended ingredient and allergen data, particularly for export markets.
10. Capital investment decisions become more evidence-led and risk-aware
With margins under pressure and capital budgets closely scrutinised, Irish manufacturers are becoming more cautious and deliberate in how they invest in automation.
What this is likely to mean in 2026:
Manufacturers increasingly seek confidence that new labelling systems will deliver measurable improvements in reliability, accuracy and throughput. Greater emphasis is placed on proven performance, clear validation and minimising disruption during installation, rather than purely upfront cost.
What Irish manufacturers should focus on now
2026 is shaping up to be a year of measured, pragmatic investment, rather than speculative upgrades.
Manufacturers that are best positioned will:
- Plan labelling upgrades with GS1 Sunrise and retailer expectations in mind
- Reduce reliance on manual processes where risk is highest
- Improve data accuracy and audit readiness
- Choose scalable systems that can adapt as requirements evolve
In an increasingly regulated and customer-driven environment, labelling is no longer just about applying a label. It is a critical safeguard for compliance, traceability and operational continuity.
How ALS Identify supports manufacturers preparing for 2026
At ALS Identify, we work with food, beverage and pharmaceutical manufacturers across Ireland to design and deliver labelling and inspection solutions that are built for today’s requirements and tomorrow’s expectations. From print and apply labelling and vision inspection to fully integrated, data-driven line solutions, we focus on reducing risk, improving accuracy and ensuring systems can scale as compliance, traceability and production demands evolve. Our approach is practical, site-specific and grounded in real production environments.
