Founded in 2001, as the only company in the sector built on employee share-ownership, our unique philosophy in partnership and customer satisfaction empowers us to deliver first class customer service at every opportunity. With eight Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs) fully integrated into our national and international supply chain, we are strategically positioned across the UK to deliver the right product at the right price, on time, every time. Kite Packaging is the largest online distributor of packaging in the UK, proudly carbon-neutral since 2021 and keeps environmental sustainability at the forefront of decision-making.
Managing Partner at Kite Packaging
Gavin Ashe, Managing Partner at Kite Packaging spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
What products or services does your company offer?
Kite’s offering has always been vast and versatile to meet the varying packaging needs of businesses across the UK. Our customers have access to over 2500 stock packaging products online which our product specialists have worked diligently to source and secure at market-beating prices. Free standard delivery is available as well as the option to upgrade to next day if needed. A dedicated telesales team sits within our call centre, trained to assist with phone orders and advise on the best packaging products for our customers’ needs.
For high-volume users in specialised industries, a bespoke service is available through our Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs), eight of which strategically span the UK, ensuring we have a wide reach. Unlike any packaging company in the sector, our very own government-accredited Kite Environmental Solutions division is available to help businesses comply with packaging regulations.
Most uniquely, however, we offer our state-of-the-art Mobile Packaging Laboratory (MPL). Housing the latest packaging technologies, the MPL travels directly to customer sites for maximum engagement with their supply chains. It features a drop test facility to determine just how well packages perform when subjected to the conditions of shipping and a 3D scanner to speed up prototyping. Customers are invited onboard to put their packaging to the test, and view solutions and sustainable alternatives with our specialists to improve their operations.
Which industries do your customers operate in and which sectors are growing the fastest?
Whether your presence is online, brick-and-mortar, or a mixture of both, packaging is required universally to protect goods in storage and transit. As a result, Kite’s customer base is diverse, ranging from start-ups and small businesses to large well-known house brands within industries such as food and drink, fashion and pharmaceuticals to name a few. We keep an extensive supply to reflect the nuanced needs of businesses across the UK.
Although ecommerce has been on the rise for as long as we can remember, the covid-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, causing it to explode as populaces isolating within their homes took their custom online. Since goods bought electronically require significantly more protective packaging due to the journey they take, the need for packaging also soared. We saw this reflected in an influx of orders as people could only shop online, forcing many business owners to also take their offering online in order to reap the benefits. Many have sustained this habit long after the threat of covid has reduced.
What training do you provide to staff?
Since our very founding, we have invested significantly into training and nurturing our own talent to provide the best service to our clients. Our graduate programme has been running for as many years as we have been in business, giving graduates the opportunity to embark on an in-depth two-year programme to gain practical, on-the-job experience. Upon completion, they progress onto management positions with many even becoming future Managing Partners. Kite has always encouraged a culture of learning, running an apprenticeship scheme, call centre academy and field sales academy to educate, train and shape our employees into the next best salespeople in packaging. We extend this ethos to all areas of the business, providing 400 training sessions last year ranging from forklift and truck licences to our in-house degree programme.
What are your most recent product innovations?
Most recently, we launched the Hivewrap box, an innovation which significantly increases the functionality and usability of the bestselling product Hivewrap. Our cleverly designed dispenser features a pre-cut slit through which the paper is pulled manually, expanding and compressing the hive-shaped cells into a strong, interlocking structure. The paper is then used to wrap and protect customers’ products, providing effective shock absorption, before finally being hand torn and placed into outer packaging ready for shipping. Glue at the dispenser’s base prevents slipping when in use, demonstrating our attention to detail and consideration of user experience when designing new products.
An ideal point of sale product due to its compact nature, this all-in-one protective paper packaging can be conveniently placed at any till, perfect for start-ups and small businesses.
What is the company’s commitment to social responsibility?
Giving back to our communities has always been important to Kite. Our big initiative currently empowers each of our eleven sites to adopt a charity and donate £2000, effecting meaningful change within their own communities.
Packaging has historically been seen as damaging to our environment and that is why we take the responsibility of selling it very seriously. From maximising the use of recycled and recyclable materials in our products, and using eco-conscious suppliers to minimising packaging waste both on-site and through our service offering, we take a proactive approach to supporting our environment. This is extended to our customers through free stretch wrap audits to minimise their plastic usage whilst ensuring their goods are optimally protected. A total of 740 tonnes of plastic has been cut from eighty-two customer operations to date through this service.
We have been proudly carbon neutral since 2021 and will continue offsetting our footprint in future. Come spring, surrounding wildlife at our Coventry site will also be preserved in a nature reserve.
Are you helping customers boost the level of automation in their businesses?
Automation is all about reducing cost and driving up efficiency, whether it takes the form of simple desk top air cushions, paper padding, and strapping or fully automated packing lines, we can help. In the last 12 months, we have completed several large integrated packaging systems for customers. Running into hundreds of thousands of capital investment, preliminary design work and CAD modelling is crucial to the process. Our dedicated in-house team develop and implement these projects, so if you are looking to redevelop an existing packaging system or put in a new one, we have the team to help. Areas of expertise include case erecting and sealing, pack bench redesign, auto fill and automated palletisation.
How future proof is your business?
Massively.
Since our founding, we have worked hard to establish a strong network of contacts, suppliers and resources, building solid partnerships which have given us the adaptability to survive disruptive circumstances. This was certainly evident during the covid-19 lockdowns and resulting material shortages despite which we managed to hit record sales figures. More recently, we have prospered despite a suffering UK economy, evident through the acquisition of our new NDC and Training Centre at Puma Park, Coventry, Shredhouse and our new North-West RDC to further consolidate Kite’s offering.
We recognise the importance of effective warehouse management to succeed. Through strategic buying, our data analysts’ expertise, and the use of drones to monitor stock, we have optimised our warehouses for fast and efficient packing and despatch. By monitoring our stock, we gain the insight and ability to meet current trends and customer demands.
With our product specialists constantly on the lookout for new, innovative methods of packaging, we are confident in our abilities to meet the needs of UK retailers selling unique products now and in the future.
KITE PACKAGING
02476 420065
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