When a packaging supplier pulled out with just two working days to spare, a bank holiday weekend standing in the way, and thousands of World Cup pies needing to reach stores, one phone call to Cullen changed everything.
Every Great Football Story Starts with a Crisis
The nation was gearing up for the World Cup.
Fans were ready. Stores were stocking up. And among the match-day essentials destined for supermarket shelves were World Cup pies – a limited-edition product expected to fly off the shelves.
There was just one problem.
The pies had no packaging.
With delivery deadlines looming, the existing packaging supplier informed the customer that they would be unable to fulfil the order. What should have been a routine production run suddenly became a race against time.
And to make matters more challenging, the clock was ticking towards a bank holiday weekend.
For most businesses, that might have been game over.
Here at Cullen, it was kick-off.
The Thursday Afternoon Phone Call
On Thursday, the customer picked up the phone and called Cullen.
They needed shelf-ready packaging designed, manufactured, assembled and delivered in time for the pies to reach stores the following Tuesday morning.
Normally, a project of this scale would require careful planning and lead times.
This one had two working days.
No pressure.
All Hands on Deck
As soon as the call came in, our team got to work.
Design and production teams collaborated immediately to finalise requirements. Structural designs were prepared, artwork was processed, manufacturing schedules were reshuffled and production capacity was prioritised.
While most people were looking forward to a long bank holiday weekend, our team was focused on one thing:
Making sure those pies made it to the shelf.
The challenge wasn’t simply printing boxes. Everything needed to happen in rapid succession:
- Packaging specifications confirmed
- Artwork prepared and approved
- Board sourced and scheduled
- Packaging printed
- Die-cut and manufactured
- Shelf-ready packs assembled
- Finished products shipped to the customer
Every stage depended on the last. Every hour mattered.
The Bank Holiday Challenge
Anyone in manufacturing knows that deadlines become significantly more difficult when a bank holiday is involved.
Reduced working days. Limited transport availability. Tight production schedules.
Yet despite the compressed timeline, here at Cullen, we pushed the project forward without compromising quality.
Because when customers face a packaging emergency, they don’t need excuses.
They need solutions.
From Crisis to Store Shelf
By Tuesday morning, the impossible had become reality.
The packaging had been designed, manufactured, printed, assembled and delivered.
The World Cup pies were packed, ready and sitting on supermarket shelves exactly where they were supposed to be.
What began as a last-minute crisis ended as a successful launch.
And most shoppers never knew there had been a problem at all.
Which, in many ways, is the best outcome possible.
What This Story Really Demonstrates
The “World Cup Pie Rescue” makes for a fun story, but it also captures something we’re incredibly proud of here at Cullen.
When customers need rapid turnaround packaging, we don’t simply manufacture boxes.
We mobilise teams.
We solve problems.
We find ways to make challenging deadlines achievable.
Whether it’s a planned production run or an unexpected emergency, our ability to react quickly, communicate clearly and deliver reliably is what sets us apart here at Cullen.
Because sometimes great packaging isn’t about what’s printed on the box.
It’s about making sure the box exists when it matters most.
Final Score
World Cup Pies: 1
Packaging Crisis: 0
Some heroes wear football shirts.
Ours step up when packaging problems can’t wait.
Behind the Story
The World Cup pie rescue remains one of our favourite examples of what’s possible when experience, teamwork and determination come together under pressure.
If you’d like to see the story for yourself, watch the video below and go behind the scenes of one of Cullen’s most memorable packaging challenges.
Need a packaging partner who can perform under pressure?
At Cullen, we specialise in delivering high-quality printed packaging with the speed, flexibility and service that modern brands need. Whether you’re planning ahead or facing a last-minute challenge, our team is ready to help.
Because deadlines don’t always wait for extra time.
When a packaging supplier pulled out with just two working days to spare, a bank holiday weekend standing in the way, and thousands of World Cup pies needing to reach stores, one phone call to Cullen changed everything.
Every Great Football Story Starts with a Crisis
The nation was gearing up for the World Cup.
Fans were ready. Stores were stocking up. And among the match-day essentials destined for supermarket shelves were World Cup pies – a limited-edition product expected to fly off the shelves.
There was just one problem.
The pies had no packaging.
With delivery deadlines looming, the existing packaging supplier informed the customer that they would be unable to fulfil the order. What should have been a routine production run suddenly became a race against time.
And to make matters more challenging, the clock was ticking towards a bank holiday weekend.
For most businesses, that might have been game over.
Here at Cullen, it was kick-off.
The Thursday Afternoon Phone Call
On Thursday, the customer picked up the phone and called Cullen.
They needed shelf-ready packaging designed, manufactured, assembled and delivered in time for the pies to reach stores the following Tuesday morning.
Normally, a project of this scale would require careful planning and lead times.
This one had two working days.
No pressure.
All Hands on Deck
As soon as the call came in, our team got to work.
Design and production teams collaborated immediately to finalise requirements. Structural designs were prepared, artwork was processed, manufacturing schedules were reshuffled and production capacity was prioritised.
While most people were looking forward to a long bank holiday weekend, our team was focused on one thing:
Making sure those pies made it to the shelf.
The challenge wasn’t simply printing boxes. Everything needed to happen in rapid succession:
- Packaging specifications confirmed
- Artwork prepared and approved
- Board sourced and scheduled
- Packaging printed
- Die-cut and manufactured
- Shelf-ready packs assembled
- Finished products shipped to the customer
Every stage depended on the last. Every hour mattered.
The Bank Holiday Challenge
Anyone in manufacturing knows that deadlines become significantly more difficult when a bank holiday is involved.
Reduced working days. Limited transport availability. Tight production schedules.
Yet despite the compressed timeline, here at Cullen, we pushed the project forward without compromising quality.
Because when customers face a packaging emergency, they don’t need excuses.
They need solutions.
From Crisis to Store Shelf
By Tuesday morning, the impossible had become reality.
The packaging had been designed, manufactured, printed, assembled and delivered.
The World Cup pies were packed, ready and sitting on supermarket shelves exactly where they were supposed to be.
What began as a last-minute crisis ended as a successful launch.
And most shoppers never knew there had been a problem at all.
Which, in many ways, is the best outcome possible.
What This Story Really Demonstrates
The “World Cup Pie Rescue” makes for a fun story, but it also captures something we’re incredibly proud of here at Cullen.
When customers need rapid turnaround packaging, we don’t simply manufacture boxes.
We mobilise teams.
We solve problems.
We find ways to make challenging deadlines achievable.
Whether it’s a planned production run or an unexpected emergency, our ability to react quickly, communicate clearly and deliver reliably is what sets us apart here at Cullen.
Because sometimes great packaging isn’t about what’s printed on the box.
It’s about making sure the box exists when it matters most.
Final Score
World Cup Pies: 1
Packaging Crisis: 0
Some heroes wear football shirts.
Ours step up when packaging problems can’t wait.
Behind the Story
The World Cup pie rescue remains one of our favourite examples of what’s possible when experience, teamwork and determination come together under pressure.
If you’d like to see the story for yourself, watch the video below and go behind the scenes of one of Cullen’s most memorable packaging challenges.
Need a packaging partner who can perform under pressure?
At Cullen, we specialise in delivering high-quality printed packaging with the speed, flexibility and service that modern brands need. Whether you’re planning ahead or facing a last-minute challenge, our team is ready to help.
Because deadlines don’t always wait for extra time.
