Latest News and Future Plans

Hi everyone,

We’ve been pretty busy lately, and it’s no secret that we’re on an exciting growth trajectory. This quarter has been one of the most productive yet, showing just how far we’ve come over the past few years. As an employee-owned company, we’re committed to delivering top-notch customer service and continuously reinvesting in our business to support long-term growth and expand our range of services.

In today’s post, I’ll be sharing some of our recent achievements and updates. If you're a journalist or just want to stay in the loop with all our latest news, be sure to check out our new Press Section—updated regularly. You can also follow us on Twitter at @kitepackaging, where we'll be engaging with trending topics in packaging and sharing exclusive updates and offers first!

Packaging Innovations Show 2013

The Packaging Innovations Show was a huge hit this year, reflecting the growing interest in the event. Companies from across the UK showcased their latest packaging solutions, and the Business Design Centre in London was packed with industry leaders looking for ways to improve supply chain efficiency. Our team was there too, presenting our latest innovation—the Kite AirShock—to potential clients.

The Kite AirShock proved to be a real crowd-pleaser, with many visitors taking custom samples back to test in their offices. Its versatility is one of its biggest strengths, as it can protect everything from delicate china plates to large items like sinks and baths. We've even tested it with heavy loads and it's held up remarkably well. Due to the positive response, we're considering adding a standard stock range of AirShock pouches to our website soon. Stay tuned for more details in the coming year!

Award Wins

September was a standout month for us, as we received two major awards within a short span. The first came from Plimsoll, a financial analytics company, which recognized us as an 'Outstanding Company' for our strong financial performance and growth in turnover. It was a real honor, and we're grateful to our customers for helping us achieve this success year after year.

Our second award came from Eaton Corporation, a global power management leader with a $20 billion revenue. Kite was the only UK supplier to receive Eaton’s prestigious 'Premier Supplier' award, a title we've now won seven times. That makes us the only supplier worldwide to ever win this award seven times in a row—a record we're incredibly proud of. It was a fantastic moment for the whole team!

New Website Design

Last week, we shared the launch of our new website design, which features improved usability and a fresh, modern look. This was a big project for the Kite Online team, and we were thrilled with the positive feedback from our customers. One of the key new features is the intelligent search bar, developed by our technical team, which predicts what you're looking for and includes a 'search by size' option to help you find the perfect product quickly.

This upgrade is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance our e-commerce experience, offering customers competitive pricing, a full range of packaging products, and a seamless purchasing process. More improvements are coming in the months ahead, all aimed at making your shopping experience as smooth and stress-free as possible.

New Trucks

Our Swindon branch recently made a significant investment in its transport operations by acquiring a new Wagon and Drag truck. Designed with full livery, this vehicle offers an impressive capacity of 112 cubic meters—nearly double that of a standard 18-tonne fixed-body truck. We conducted extensive research into the benefits of these vehicles, including a reduction in CO2 emissions, which aligns with our ISO1400 environmental goals.

This new truck will help the Swindon branch expand its services, supporting solutions like Just-In-Time delivery and Direct-to-Line. It's the first step in our plan to roll out a fleet of Kite-branded Wagon and Drag trucks across the UK.

New Buildings for Further Growth

Just a few days ago, our Sheffield branch announced its move to a new location due to a 50% increase in staff. The new facility in Rotherham will span 30,000 square feet—10,000 more than the previous site. This £1.5 million investment is another sign of our rapid expansion in the packaging industry.

Meanwhile, our Midlands office is staying put but growing. We recently purchased an adjacent building to create more warehouse space and offices as we continue to scale up. The Coventry-based building houses three of our businesses: Midlands accounts, Kite Online, and KES (Kite Environmental Solutions). The new space will open up more job opportunities and allow us to introduce a broader range of products in 2014.