A corrugated cake box produced by Adara Pakkaus for Boulangerie Marco has received top honours in two major international flexographic printing competitions. Printed on MetsäBoard Pro WKL, the exceptionally detailed packaging demonstrates what can be achieved when ambitious design, advanced printing expertise and a high-quality coated white kraftliner come together to create strong brand impact.

The Boulangerie Marco cake box won both its category, Corrugated post-print (E and F Flute), and the overall Supreme Award at the FlexoTech International Print & Innovations Awards in London in October 2026. Earlier in the year, the same packaging received a Gold Award and Best of Show recognition in the corrugated category at the 2026 FTA Excellence in Flexography Awards in Milwaukee, US.

At the FlexoTech Awards, the judges praised the exceptional level of detail achieved on a demanding substrate and described the work as an example of "best-in-class execution". They also noted that there was "not a flaw in sight".

The FTA jury similarly recognised the cake box as a technically demanding piece of work that achieved superior tonal range, precision and overall visual impact.

MetsäBoard Pro WKL 160 g/m², produced at Metsä Board's Kemi mill in Finland, was used as the top liner of the corrugated board.

"Our Kemi mill has a strong reputation for producing high-quality white kraftliners for demanding corrugated packaging applications. MetsäBoard Pro WKL's smooth, double-coated surface supports the accurate reproduction of detailed images and brand colours, while its strength contributes to the performance of the finished package. This award-winning cake box is an excellent demonstration of what the material can achieve in high-quality flexographic printing," says Aaro Åivo, Account Manager, Specialty Packaging at Metsä Board.
 

Adara's flexographic printing expertise behind the award-winning cake box
 

The cake box was manufactured and printed by Adara Pakkaus. Its structure was designed by Kaisa Pietilä of Adara, while the artwork and prepress work were developed in collaboration between Boulangerie Marco, Adara and Marvaco. Siegwerk supplied the printing inks.

According to Lari Seppälä, Head of Printing at Adara Pakkaus, the result reflects years of systematic development in flexographic print quality and production processes.

"The Boulangerie Marco cake box is an excellent example of what can be achieved with flexographic printing on corrugated board. At Adara, we have worked consistently over the years to develop our printing quality and production processes together with our partners Marvaco and Siegwerk," Seppälä says.

Close cooperation between the customer, packaging design, prepress and printing teams began at an early stage of the project. This allowed the demanding visual design and the technical solutions needed to produce it to be considered together from the outset.

"The cooperation across the production chain was one of the prerequisites for success. It allowed us to find the best technical solutions for producing such a demanding design efficiently, consistently and to a high standard," Seppälä continues.

The award-winning cake box was printed at an exceptionally high screen ruling of 62 lines per centimetre, placing particular demands on the properties of the printing surface, Seppälä explains.

"Such a high screen ruling requires exceptional properties from the printing material, starting with the smoothness of the surface. That is why we used Metsä Board's double-coated MetsäBoard Pro WKL for this demanding print job. Overall, I would say this is one of the most demanding print jobs ever produced on corrugated board," Seppälä says.
 

Structural design protects the cake and reflects Boulangerie Marco's brand
 

The packaging was designed not only to look distinctive but also to make handling the cake easier. Its structure allows even a large cake to be pulled neatly out of the box without the packaging leaving marks on it.

The croissant motif from Boulangerie Marco's logo is repeated in the shape of the lid, connecting the structural design of the box with the bakery's visual identity.

"We wanted the opening experience to be just as impressive as the box looks before it is opened. The structure allows the cake to be removed neatly, while the shape of the lid makes the packaging recognisably Boulangerie Marco," says Kaisa Pietilä, Packaging Designer at Adara.

"For us as a material supplier, it is particularly rewarding to see how our customers turn the potential of our paperboards into outstanding packaging. This achievement is a great example of how close cooperation across the value chain can push the boundaries of corrugated packaging," says Aaro Åivo, Account Manager, Specialty Packaging at Metsä Board.

With top honours in two international competitions, the Boulangerie Marco cake box sets an impressive benchmark for detailed flexographic printing on corrugated packaging.
 

Link to photos