Kite Packaging, founded in 2001, is one of the UK’s largest packaging distributors and the only company within the sector built on employee share-ownership. This philosophy of partnership runs throughout the business, encouraging our team to deliver premium customer service at every opportunity. We now have eight Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs) across the UK which are fully integrated into our national and international supply chain to provide the right product at the right price, on time, every time.
Managing Partner, Kite Packaging
Gavin Ashe, Managing Partner at Kite Packaging, speaks to Warehouse & Logistics News.
What are your best known products/solutions/services?
No one wants packaging, but everyone needs it. Kite’s greatest asset has always been solving packaging problems for our customers, whether through our 2500+ standard products or our 10’s of thousands of bespoke products. If you have a problem, we have the knowledge to solve it.
Kite’s bestsellers are single and double wall boxes, packaging tape and pallet wrap. Large letter postal boxes and postal boxes are also rising in popularity thanks to the money-saving benefits they offer by complying with Royal Mail’s PiP Guide.
Our state-of-the-art Mobile Packaging Laboratory (MPL), however, is one of Kite’s most unique services. It houses the latest packaging technologies, travelling directly to customer sites for engagement with their supply chains. By aiding clever packaging redesign, it helps companies make significant savings in logistics by fitting more product onto vehicles through efficient use of the space available. Onboard the MPL, customers can test their packaging as well as view solutions and sustainable alternatives to improve their operations.
What are your most recent products and innovations?
Our efforts have been focused on the environment, replacing plastic-based products with eco-friendly alternatives and, where plastic must be used, ensuring these products contain recycled content.
Kite’s paper void fill dispenser range now includes the incredibly compact and efficient Speedman Flex and Paperjet Fit systems. Offering next generation automation in the void fill category, these permit adaptation to the changing needs of a business whilst using 100% recycled paper. A complementary white paper roll has also been added to the existing range of kerbside recyclable papers used with these machines.
Our hivewrap box is another cleverly designed Kite innovation used to dispense hive paper by expanding it into an interlocking wrap for protecting goods. It offers a cost-effective, compact and eco-friendly packaging solution to business users.
What are the major trends and developments affecting your category and your customers, and how are you responding?
Sustainability continues to be a major influence, especially due to the Plastic Packaging Tax, as does the current macroeconomic climate. Our clients want to reduce their overheads and the rising cost of PRNs also makes this an area to consider. As plastic products containing 30% or more recycled content are tax exempt, they are a great way for our customers to streamline their spending. Not to mention, these products power a circular economy which protects our planet.
What’s the latest news from your company?
We’re seeking eight new individuals to join our Packaging Professional BSc (Honours) degree programme, launching this year. This qualification combines studying at Sheffield Hallam University alongside 30+ hours of work in the field and is an advanced apprenticeship. Candidates have the opportunity to gain significant insight into the packaging industry whilst obtaining a specialised qualification without having to pay any fees, all while earning a salary. It’s a fantastic opportunity for anyone who has recently completed college or sixth form to learn, grow and thrive at one of the UK’s leading packaging distributors.
Can you tell us about any areas where you’re currently making technical advances?
Kite is paving the way for logistics as one of the first UK businesses to incorporate a drone helicopter into our warehouse. The drone is responsible for stock-taking, conducting cycle counts in five hours which is considerably faster than any manual operation. Not only has this technology helped improve the efficiency of our operation, but it has also eradicated the need for mobile elevating platforms, increasing workplace safety for our warehouse operatives.
Also within our warehouse, we use Crown forklifts which recharge as they descend, reducing energy consumption and helping us to operate a little more sustainably.
Are you investing in staff training and skills development?
Since our founding we have been investing in training and skills development at all levels of the business, nurturing our employees’ talents into refined skills which has been a major driving force behind our success. Alongside our Packaging Professional apprenticeship degree, we are also recruiting new candidates for our Graduate Management Scheme, Business Development Manager Programme and Telesales Academy. For middle and senior management, we have an inhouse development programme with day release to an external training company, allowing staff to hone their soft skills in HR, personnel management and strategic thinking.
Are you taking part in any major trade shows? Can you tell us what you’ll be exhibiting there?
Kite will be exhibiting at various events, including the Spring fair at the NEC from 5th-8th February.
We will also be at the following events: Food and Drink Expo, Supply Chain Summit, Tomorrows Warehouse, Space-Comm Expo, Battery & Systems Expo, Luxury Packaging, and Supply Chain Summit.
What sets your company apart from the competition?
Employee share-ownership gives Kite a unique culture and attitude unattainable by any other packaging wholesaler, playing a major role in our success. We are invested in our customers, supporting their sustainability goals through services such as free pallet wrap audits to reduce plastic use; our people, providing training and skill development at every level; the environment, supplying eco-friendly packaging to businesses across the UK as part of a circular economy.
What would you say are the biggest trends shaping the warehousing and logistics industry?
Automation and robotics, as seen within our warehouse, to meet the exponential demand for ecommerce. One-click orders and same day delivery have made customers more demanding than ever and the only way to meet these expectations is by incorporating technology into our processes. Automated guided vehicles will play a significant role in this thanks to the array of benefits they offer, including increased inventory efficiency and workplace safety amongst other things for faster order fulfilment.
How future proof and flexible are your solutions?
Very. Going back to our opening comment, nobody wants packaging but everyone needs it. It’s dynamic and constantly changing, so is Kite. We embrace technology, as seen in our warehouse, allowing us to shed old techniques for excelling in favour of new ones. In keeping with this, we will be launching an app to support our customer account ordering portal later this year.
Our inhouse data team is constantly assessing the market, ensuring our offering aligns with current trends.
Kite Packaging Ltd
02476420065
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