Jobs lost as historic beer mat firm moves to Germany

Dec 1 2008 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

BEER MAT BUSINESS MOVING TO GERMANY

The firm still owns the former Britannia Road mills in Milnsbridge, having seen a deal to sell it to a developer collapse..

One worker, who asked not to be named, said: “We are stunned. There are plenty of orders and we are busy, but they have told us now that all production is moving to Germany in January.”

*Quarmby Promotions was formed in 1872 as a packaging business and began making drip mats in 1931.

*It has sold more than 9.5bn beer mats and is the world’s largest producer of drip mats, with operations in the UK, Germany and Belgium.

*The company has customers in more than 50 countries, including ones in Europe, North and South America and south-east Asia.

*Customers have included Bulmers, Tennents, Stella Artois, Thwaites and Mitchells and Butlers.