S Lester Packing Materials has reported 150% increase in sales during the pandemic as it catered for demand in moving goods around the country and a boom in home shopping.
The Burntwood-based company supplies corrugated boxes, large format, heavy-duty cases and bespoke packaging to clients in the automotive, aerospace, bike manufacturing, mail order and third-party logistics sector.
The company is now planning to build on this successful period and a £4.5m investment in infrastructure and new technology by taking the opportunity to reposition itself as Lesters.
The 18 months have been a whirlwind period for Lesters, with 15 staff hired across production and in administration/support, whilst a second shift has been introduced to keep up with demand.
This has helped to support the design and manufacture of a growing range of products, including octabins, pallet boxes, heavy duty packaging, bespoke die cut units, corrugated cartons and retail ready packaging.
A key driver in recent growth has been the decision to invest £3m in a new TCY Jumbo Casemaker, the first of its type to be operational in the UK.
Billy Hutchinson, director of Lesters, said the company recently purchased a transport and warehousing company to fit within the group, and is now setting its sights on further investment in an additional casemaker line and the appointment of an Account Manager to cover the North of the country.
There are also plans to make additional acquisitions further up the packaging supply chain to increase the number of sites and capacity it offers.
“We’ve been in business for nearly 40 years, and during that time we’ve never stood still,” said Hutchinson. “However, the last two years has seen us really push forward with our growth plans, investing heavily in our site, technology, and people to create improved capability, capacity, and efficiency.
“We don’t just sell boxes…we offer complete, bespoke packaging solutions and are helping to disrupt a marketplace that traditionally has been dominated by two or three big players.”
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