FLAG (Flexo Label Advantage Group) once again hosted a successful Annual Meeting by welcoming 124 attendees to San Diego, CA, USA from March 23-26, 2026. Members, vendor partners, and guests joined the event for education, networking, and a dedicated Vendor Tabletop Exhibition. At the Annual Meeting, attendees learned about the latest trends impacting the label and packaging printing industry – from AI and automation to M&A and sustainability. In addition, Label King served as the host of the popular Member Tour.

With the theme, “Sky’s the Limit,” FLAG showcased how members and vendor partners can get the most benefits from their membership.

“This week gives you a window seat at ways you can grow your business,” explained JC McKay, president, FLAG. “Every single person in this room is a builder of some sort. You do things most people would not do to achieve the results they have in their businesses.

“In order to make money, you need to create value for someone else,” added McKay. “The more value you can create, the more money you will make. Your opportunity exists here with FLAG.”

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Organizational growth

FLAG also exhibited its growth over the years. The group currently boasts 136 total converter members and 58 total vendor partner programs.

“Interest is high in FLAG and we are growing,” said John McKay, founder and CEO, FLAG. “We’re here to help our members become stronger in the market. Our mission has been the same for 17 years – and that’s the only way this works. Nobody outside your company cares more about your success than FLAG.”

The event saw several milestones, too. Of the member companies:

• 57 have saved over $100,000 since joining FLAG 
• 16 saved over $500,000 
• 8 have saved over $1 million 
• 1 has saved over $2 million 

In addition to buying group benefits, FLAG delivers new label sales and growth opportunities, catastrophic recovery support, and technical and business resources.

Member peer groups were also highlighted during the event, as well. The peer groups serve as one of FLAG’s best offerings to label and package printing industry members. The collaborative experience allows members to troubleshoot common issues and explore best practices in the changing nature of the business.

Exploring Label King

One of the highlights of the Annual Meeting, the Member Tour took place on March 24, 2026, at San Diego-based Label King. The first of two locations – with the most recent launch in Salt Lake City – Label King has emerged as an industry pillar in the label and package printing industry.

Robert Parker, owner, gave a brief synopsis of the business and, alongside his dedicated team, ushered guided tours throughout the facility.

Parker established the company 24 years ago and has enjoyed numerous growth milestones in that time. In addition to investing in cutting-edge equipment from Mark Andy and Domino in recent years, Label King enjoyed a record sales month in February 2026 as the company continues to grow.

“We are independent and we have tremendous advantages in business because of that,” said Parker. “The decisions we make as a company are for the long term. We’re not pushing anything other than the long-term success of our company. We’re doing what’s best for us. I’m not looking to sell. We want to make money, but I don’t care about our EBITDA. I want to run a great company.”

In 2027, Long Island, NY-based K. Sidrane will serve as the host of the Annual Member Tour.

Working with vendors

There are significant benefits for vendors, too. FLAG’s growing independent converter network and direct access to owners and decision-makers are fundamental advantages. Plus, members have a commitment to an open opportunity policy, with partnership focused on mutual success.”

The Annual Meeting featured a Vendor Tabletop Expo, where FLAG’s dedicated vendor partners showcased their newest capabilities. The event allowed new vendor partners – such as CERM and Green Bay Packaging – and FLAG members to interact in a relaxed setting.

As part of the vendor interaction, HP met with members in a private session to uncover the latest benefits of digital printing. HP Indigo has long been a leading choice for label and packaging manufacturers. For those looking to get into digital: Brand equity, anti-counterfeiting, variable content marketing, and more are all available.

“FLAG is equally focused on watching vendors succeed,” noted John McKay. “It’s our win-win-win strategy, which has been since the very beginning of FLAG. When members and vendor partners succeed together, FLAG works.”

Educational sessions

FLAG also welcomed a host of speakers and panelists. L&NW editor Greg Hrinya delivered the 2026 State of the Union for the label industry. The top trends include sustainability, M&A, AI, digital printing and more. Meanwhile, JC McKay hosted a dedicated session on AI, entitled, “An AI Future – Leveraging AI For Sales & Marketing.”

In addition, LPC Inc.’s Jackie Kuehlmann moderated an in-depth panel discussion featuring Michael Milam, COO, Dr. Bronners, Jeremy Dahl, co-founder and co-creative director, Bex Brands, and Adam Peek, King of the Mountains, Label King SLC. The panel went, “Inside the Label Value Chain: How Brands, Designers, and Converters Work Best Together.”

This session highlighted the need for increased collaboration throughout all levels of the supply chain.

Additional notes

Not only did the FLAG Annual Meeting provide ample time for networking and education, attendees enjoyed several sponsored events. On the Annual Meeting’s final day, FLAG hosted the annual Awards Dinner where John and JC McKay honored a number of the association’s most successful members.

Hybrid Software’s Mike Agness received the Brad Brown Strategic Partner Award. Meanwhile, All Printing Resources was honored with the Vendor Partner of the Year Award.

FLAG also treated attendees to a guided tour of The USS Midway Museum in San Diego. This top-rated, interactive naval museum is located on a historic, decommissioned aircraft carrier at the Embarcadero.

Plus, new vendor partner Green Bay Packaging hosted the welcome festivities on the opening night of the Annual Meeting.