Fresh food packaging supplier celebrates its 40th anniversary by upgrading facilities – Horticulture Week

This includes an upgrading and expansion of the Kent headquarters that will be opened later this year and the recent installation of three further box erecting machines, two in Kent and one in Scotland.

Produce Packaging projects manager Jeremy Sharp said: “We saw a huge increase in demand before the UK went into lockdown as consumers stocked up and started to eat almost exclusively at home.

“Supermarkets have been getting good press on their response to the new challenges, retailers have thanked the suppliers, and we have had customers – food manufacturers, growers and packhouses – thank us for our response, which is a lovely birthday present.

Produce Packaging became UK agent for Huhtamaki La Rochelle, providing pulp cavity fruit trays and was bought by H.L. Hutchinson the late 1990s, then expanded sales into East Anglia and the Midlands, working out of Wisbech and Ledbury as well as Marden.

In 1999, the company stopped manufacturing packaging and focused on distribution. As the company expanded, so did its packaging range, which grew to include fruit cavity liners, pre-pack trays, films, punnets, bags, labels and boxes.

In 2012, the company formed a relationship with Cullen Packaging in Scotland, supplying paper pulp trays.

The company also supplies plastic punnets for soft fruits, sourced from Waddington Europe based at Arklow in Ireland.

It also works with CKF of Canada, manufacturers of the cellulose based Earthcyle range and Trenton Box Co, suppliers of carton board punnets and trays.”

Suzannah Starkey of Starkeys Fruit Farm said: “Congratulations to Produce Packaging for reaching 40 years of business – not easy these days. Over the years of doing business with us in Nottinghamshire, Produce Packaging have supplied a variety of different packaging for our fruit farm. We find their sales staff and other operations to be very prompt at responding, reliable and efficient in delivery. Here’s to the next 40 Years of doing business together!”

Ignas Grakavinas of WFL said: “Produce Packaging is one of our main suppliers for trays, liners, lids, punnets and pads used for products within the major UK supermarkets. Their partnership and support has enabled us to increase year on year volumes across a number of key areas, overcoming challenges no matter how big or urgent.

“Deliveries are always punctual, staff are exceptionally helpful and always able to react, even to the same day demands. It is a pleasure to do a business with this company and we look forward to continuing our long-lasting relationship.”