WINNEROFGROWTHAND INNOVATION AWARD

LestersPackagingcelebratedits thirdExpress &StarBusiness Awardthisyear.

Thecompany from Burntwood wascrowned as Growth andInnovation Awardwinner for2023.

It followedsuccess as both Manufacturing Championand Smallto Medium SizedBusinesswinner in 2022

Thegrowthand innovationcategorywas sponsoredbyEmmiera Group, of Brierley Hill, andits boss JamesLane–Business Person of theYearin2022–madethe presentation to thecompany,which makesmillionsofboxed andpackingcases annually

Judges said that innovationwas at theheart of everything that the 40-year-oldbusinessdid

Growing

They were impressedthatthe growingand forward-thinking companywas taking on another20 staffthisyeartotakethe workforce to 70

Managing director BillyHutchinson, whowas also a finalist in Business Personofthe Year for2023, wasdelightedtohaveahat-trick of Express&Starawards.

“I am veryproud of everyone at LestersPackaging.

“You arenothing withouta team andyou can’tgrowwithout having good peoplearoundyou –aone-man army deliversnothing,” addedMr Hutchinson.

Lesterswerealso finalistsinthe overallBusinessofthe Year category

Thefast-growingbusiness, which is basedinMount Road,has embarked on a£7million,three-year investment strategy to equipitwith thelatestmachinery andtechnology

It hasstate-of-theart facilities includinganindustry-leadingdesign centre

It is investing£2.5million in a newproduction line fitted with arotary diecutterand pre-feeder and auto palletiser

Lestershas also created acustomerservicesteamtohandleall itsenquiries.

Thecompany hascontinued to push theboundariesofinnovation when it comestopackaging.

It is on target to achieve£25 million salesin2023, whichis proving to be anothertransformationalyear forthe business afteritdoubled turnover from £6min2021to£13m last year

Thefamilybusinesshas deep rootsinBurntwood andmanyof itsteammembers have been with Lestersfor many years.

It rebrandedfromSLesterPackingMaterials to become Lesters Packagingin 2021