An award-winning company is pressing ahead with its European expansion plans following a “pivotal” year for the business.
Meltham-based Disposables UK Group, which moved into bigger premises in July last year and was named Business of the Year at the Examiner Business Awards in November, said it was continuing its ambitious five-year growth plan into new European markets during 2014.
Sales director Paul Halliwell said: “2013 was a pivotal year for us. We invested £1.7m into new machinery and moved into larger premises.
“We also saw some great sales successes across our brands and we enjoyed continued growth on our Bay West brand, achieving double-digit growth figures for the past three years.”
He said: “2014 will see us working smarter. Following the relocation of our four previous premises to one larger site, it is the first time in many years that we are all under one roof and this is a great opportunity to be leaner in both manufacturing and operational terms, and to be more aggressive in selling.
“We see 2014 and 2015 as expansion years and – with our aim to almost double turnover from £16m to £30m by 2018 – the next few years will be pivotal.”
Mr Halliwell said: “2014 will also see us further expand into Europe, following the recent appointment of Glen Staddon as European business manager.
“Glen will work closely with me to play a major role in developing our presence in the European market and will be responsible for broadening the Bay West brand in untapped European markets as well as extending business into existing areas where we already have a presence.”
Mr Halliwell said: “With regard to the wider industry, we believe that the manufacturing market in Yorkshire is set to strengthen in 2014, with a higher volume of business available.
“However, there will still be challenges ahead. Manufacturers now have to look towards building profits and not buying volume at any price, so that we can all invest and grow stronger as an industry.
“How we respond and react to different supply routes will certainly be a consideration. Direct selling through ship-through strategies and e-commerce transaction will bring increasing issues, particularly where people are determined to erode the price differentials within our market.
“All this impacts on our traditional routes to market. For the industry, it’s not about how we follow the lead, it’s about how we adapt, harness and embrace these opportunities.
“And that’s exactly how we view 2014 – as a year of real opportunity for ourselves and the industry as a whole.”
Disposables UK Group is a family-owned business and has been operating for 26 years. The firm manufactures and distributes paper disposables and cleaning and hygiene products for customers in the “away from home” market such as hotels, restaurants, college and universities, sports venues and hospitals.
Its Bay West range of washroom dispensers and paper products were chosen for supply in certain areas of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
