The Packaging Boys - Evesham Specialist Packaging LTD

Evesham Specialist Packaging (ESP) has been based at the old Newent GMS site for the last 9 months, the site rather aptly located on Strawberry Hill has become the nerve centre for this forward thinking company that aims to sevce the fresh produce industry with all its packaging requirements. From individual growers to blue chip packhosue operations.

ESP only beguan operating three years ago, based at their Nursery (run by Richard Mitchell and Douglas Wilson) up the road from the GMS site. The nursery is still used for storing the vast quantaties of packaging they procure. The team has steadily expanded and is now headed by Ronan (MD), Duncan (Sales and Marketing Director) alongside Richard and Douglas. Theya re supported by two area sales managers, Ian and Paul. Expansion under these guys has seen deliveries made as far afield as Argentina, Greece and India.

The warehouse and nursery site has some 11-12 thousand square feet of available storage space and in order to fulfil demand this is set to expand to 20,000 by 2003. ESP will try to match their stock holding accoding to what their customers are going to require throughout the season, they compliment this by accommodating any bespoke request a customer has. they have also placed equipment at customers sites, both Wye Fruit and AMS have a box making machine on site.

ESP haven't only built a strong relationship with their customers but they are able to deal with bespoke requests because of their relationship with suppliers such as Sharpak and Infia. it's the Sharpak S500 that is ESP's most popular product, accounting for some 10-11% of the comnapny's turnover. Sales of S500 have increased by over 35% in 2002 year on year. ESP have recently been approached by Mertons Papermarc with an offer of an exclusive marketing agreement covering the Midlands and Somerset. The Souoth Wales based copmpany manufacture solid board boxes designed to pack product wet in the fields or for high humidity storage. ESP was the desired distributor because of their presence and the business they have established in these two regions. Not to be outdone by KJZ, ESP has also secured a new contract withi a large poultry packer, supplying chickens to numerous customers including ASDA. ESP are supplying the trays for up to 50,000 birds a day.

Autumn 2002