Member Article

Clingfoil celebrates 35 years in business

Clingfoil, one of the North West’s largest independent distributors of high performance protective packaging materials and stretch film product solutions, is celebrating 35 years in business this year with new branding, an anticipated 10% rise in turnover and a 25% increase in productivity.

To mark the momentous anniversary, a fresh new logo has been rolled out across the company’s website and marketing materials to reflect the complete packaging solutions offered by the Poynton (Cheshire) based business.

Following a surge in demand from the industrial manufacturing, warehouse and e-commerce markets over the past 24 months, the business has forecast a record-breaking turnover of £6m across the business and is set to increase production of its stretch film product from 2 million to 2.5 million metres per week following installation of new machinery.

The family-owned and run business was established in 1982 and from humble beginnings with a bedroom office and using their Mum’s car for deliveries, brothers Mark and Paul Kenyon launched their fledgling business selling clingfilm and aluminium foil rolls to the catering industry.

With just one customer on their books in 1982 and a turnover of less than a £1000 per month, the two brothers worked hard to establish new accounts and over the next four years, it became clear that stretch film was growing in popularity as the most effective solution for pallet wrapping amongst the industrial manufacturing and warehouse industry.

As a result, the sales focus quickly shifted from distributing film and foil products to offering protective packaging solutions including stretch film, adhesive tape and corrugated cases. In 1985, the business opened its first office and took on a salesman in 1987, later moving to its first commercial office and warehouse premises in 1990 – the same year that turnover hit its first £1m.

In the company’s anniversary year, productivity of Clingfoil’s industry renowned high performance stretch films is set to increase by over half a million metres per week with the arrival of their fifth fully automated rewind stretch film machine, the CGA 220.

Company director Mark Kenyon comments: “Demand for our stretch film has been increasing year-on-year thanks to the surge in e-commerce and logistics business across the North West in particular. With the arrival of new machinery this month which will increase our daily output considerably, we’ll be well placed to enhance the service that we offer to our loyal customer base, ensuring that we can meet demand and supply a high quality product to our customers faster than ever - a key requisite in today’s market.

“In our anniversary year, we’re encouraged by this interest in our products and feel confident that with our extensive industry knowledge, we’re in a strong position to continue offering significant cost and environmental savings against generic films widely being used across the industry.”

Speaking of the secret to Clingfoil’s success, Mark says: “I’ve always been ambitious and had a strong desire to succeed. The early days were driven by the philosophy that if we throw enough mud against the wall, eventually some of it will stick. Luckily for us, it did!

“We’re very proud of our achievements and the fact that we still supply products to our very first customer 35 years on. Our family-focused business ensures that we still have four staff members who have worked for us for over 20 years which is testament to the tight-knit team that we are lucky to retain.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Alison .