Founded in 2001, Kite Packaging has swiftly become a top UK packaging supplier, known for its award-winning solutions, sustainability, and exceptional customer service. With ten strategically located sites nationwide, we offer a comprehensive range of packaging materials, equipment, and machinery, as well as tailored solutions. As the UK’s Packaging Company of the Year, we are dedicated to providing businesses with the right products at the right price, on time, every time.
Managing Director at Kite Packaging
Gavin Ashe, Managing Director at Kite Packaging spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
What are your best-known products/services?
Our best-known products include boxes, tape, and pallets, as well as pallet wrap, protective wraps, and void fill. We specialise in postal and ecommerce packaging, catering to online businesses that need efficient solutions to meet the growing demand for online shopping. Our ecommerce boxes, designed with a crash lock base and adhesive peel-and-seal strip, ensure rapid assembly and packing efficiency. Additionally, our postal boxes adhere to Royal Mail’s PiP Guide, helping small businesses minimise their shipping costs.
We also offer a wide range of pack room equipment, such as robotic and turntable pallet wrapping machines, tape and void fill dispensers, and case erectors. We’re particularly proud of our eco-friendly packaging options, which help businesses reduce their environmental impact without compromising on quality or protection.
In what way does your company stand out from its competitors?
Kite Packaging distinguishes itself as the only employee share-owned company in the sector. Every staff member has a personal stake in the business and is dedicated to delivering top-notch service and solutions. As a testament to this commitment, we have achieved a milestone of 50,000 reviews on Trustpilot this year, maintaining an overall excellent rating and a TrustScore of 4.7. This accomplishment makes us the highest-ranked and most reviewed packaging supplier in the UK.
Our unwavering focus on sustainability is evident in our offerings of recyclable, biodegradable, and reusable materials, many of which contain recycled content. This commitment has been integral since our founding. Additionally, our award-winning design team excels at creating innovative and practical packaging solutions. Supported by our specialised Pack Techs in Pallet Wrap, In-the-Box, AMED, and our Mobile Packaging Laboratory (MPL), we are able to provide tailored, comprehensive solutions that address the unique needs of each customer. Our Pallet Wrap team ensures optimal use of materials, reducing waste and improving efficiency. The In-the-Box team focuses on protective packaging that secures products during transit. Our AMED Pack Techs bring expertise in advanced materials and engineering design for the aerospace industry, ensuring our solutions are both cutting-edge and practical. Lastly, the MPL team travel to customer sites, bringing state-of-the-art packaging technology straight to their doorsteps, allowing us to give our customers immediate results.
Through this collaborative approach, we deliver packaging solutions that not only meet but exceed customer expectations, fostering long-term partnerships built on trust and excellence.
What are your most recent product innovations?
Our latest launches include a reusable timber hive wrap dispenser, designed to minimise waste compared to disposable cardboard dispensers. We’ve also expanded our pallet wrap range with 30% recycled films, a premium dispenser, and a carbon fibre dispenser. The premium dispenser is durable enough for tough warehouse conditions and allows users to unload and load rolls in under 10 seconds. The lightweight, 450g carbon fibre dispenser reduces strain and operator fatigue, boosting wrap efficiency by 20%. All these new products are available for purchase on our website.
Are you investing in staff training and skills development and can you give examples?
As an employee share-owned business, we believe that investing in our people drives our success, innovation, and customer satisfaction.
Over the past year, we have invested over £1 million in technical training, including fully funded degree apprenticeships in Packaging and Supply Chain Management in partnership with Sheffield Hallam and Aston Universities. These programmes equip our apprentices with the academic knowledge and practical skills needed to excel in their roles. We also offer continuous development opportunities through tailored learning programmes, ensuring our employees stay ahead of industry demands. This commitment to training fosters growth, loyalty, and expertise within our team, keeping us at the forefront of the packaging industry.
Our dedication was recently recognised with the CSR Initiative of the Year award at the 2024 UK Packaging Awards for our Management Degree Apprenticeship programme. We are currently seeking new recruits for our 2025 intake.
What work are you doing in the area of sustainability?
We are committed to sustainability and are on track to maintain our carbon-neutral status through 2025, marking five consecutive years of carbon neutrality. Our mission, prominently displayed on our delivery trucks, is to help companies ‘use less packaging,’ aligning with their sustainability goals and making us the preferred packaging supplier for many.
One of the key technologies we have implemented for this cause is the pallet wrap rewinder in our Mobile Packaging Laboratory (MPL). The device enhances our pallet wrap auditing process as it can unwind and measure rolls of film to ensure they match the specified length and yield. This is particularly useful as businesses often receive pallet wraps that may not meet their exact requirements. Through this process we can verify whether a company is getting the right amount of film and see if there are better options available. By recommending higher yield options, we help businesses reduce their plastic use and improve operational efficiency. Aside from this, we are always exploring and bringing new sustainable packaging solutions to market. For example, our latest product launch, a reusable timber hive wrap dispenser, reduces waste with its robust, long-lasting design.
These initiatives reflect our ongoing commitment to sustainability and reducing both our own and our customers’ environmental impact.
How future-proof and flexible are your solutions?
Our solutions are designed to be both future-proof and flexible. Prioritising eco-friendly practices ensures that our solutions align with the enduring trend towards sustainability. Flexibility is key, and our versatile offerings cater to a wide range of product types and sizes. For example, our comprehensive postal and ecommerce box range meets diverse customer needs while maintaining efficiency and sustainability. This adaptability keeps our packaging solutions relevant and effective in a rapidly evolving market.
What exhibitions can we expect to see your company exhibiting at in 2025?
In 2025, Kite Packaging will be exhibiting at several key events, including Packaging Innovations in February, IntraLogistex in March, and Supply Chain Summit in April. We’ll be participating in more events later in the year as well.
How would you sum up your company in three words?
Innovative, sustainable, dependable.
KITE PACKAGING
02476 420065
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