Disrupting one of the UK’s most traditional sectors has helped a Burntwood-based packaging specialist secure a major business award.
Lesters, which has seen turnover double from £8m in 2021 to an anticipated £16.5m by the close of this year, secured the Growth & Innovation Award last night at the Express & Star Business Awards held in Wolverhampton.
The company saw off competition from USP Steels and IPU Group to win the coveted prize, with judges praising the firm for the way it created an ecosystem around its core large box packaging offer that helps clients achieve cost savings and supply chain efficiencies.
They also highlighted the management team’s willingness to invest in both the latest technology and its workforce, spending over £7m on two state-of-the-art TCY Casemakers and taking on 20 new team members respectively.
Reiss Newport, Finance Director at Lesters, commented: “It has been such a whirlwind period of growth that you sometimes don’t spend enough time reflecting on what the business and our incredible team have achieved.
“To be successful against the calibre of firms we were up against is a real testament to the brand we have built and the industry-leading service we provide to the likes of JLR and the world’s leading e-commerce provider.”
Double Success
It has been a successful week for Lesters, with MD Billy Hutchinson also being named in The Manufacturer’s Top 100 for the first time.
This national competition recognises the best leaders and rising stars in industry, with the Staffordshireentrepreneur chosen for his strategic thinking and ability to scale a business quickly – especially against the backdrop of global supply chain issues.
He has focused expansion on creating an ecosystem around the company’s core box range and now offers clients an industry-leading design and innovation centre, access to a warehousing service that includes just-in-time delivery and a signature delivery service that is ideal for large, bulky, or expensive products.
Continued Investment
There has also been £100,000 invested into creating a dedicated ‘Recycle’ offer, which sells used cardboard boxes to existing and new clients looking for greener and more cost-effective ways of transporting their products.
Billy continued: “The recognition for the brand is superb, but the most important thing is making sure we continue to put our growing client base first and we continue to disrupt the marketplace wherever possible with innovations that make a positive difference.”
To find out more about Lesters extensive range of corrugated products, visit www.lesterspackaging.co.uk/our-products
