Invopak, a leading supplier of rigid plastic and metal packaging, saw orders double during the Coronavirus crisis, fulfilling them all – despite lockdown, social distancing and European supply chain issues.
Orders rocketed from 13,000 in April to June 2019, to 26,000 in the same quarter this year.
That Covid response has now won Invopak bronze in the 2020 International Business Awards®, known as the Stevies. The COVID-19 category was created to ‘honour the contributions of individuals, groups, and organisations that have worked valiantly over the past months to keep us safe, healthy, employed, and informed’.
The sales boom follows a £10 million investment to create the industry’s most sophisticated working environment at the company’s distribution centres in Manchester, Warwickshire, Dublin and Glasgow. The cash injection into facilities and systems meant Invopak was first in its industry to promise to always have its guaranteed lines in stock and ready to deliver, even during the pandemic.
The business has credited its ability to cope with soaring demand not just to the cash injection, but also its innovative, multi award winning Purpose and Values led Performance Culture.
CEO, Arjen Cooper-Rolfe, said: “Of course the impact of the pandemic has been the catalyst, but it’s been truly remarkable that we’ve been able to physically make this sales increase happen. Incredible in fact.”
“We’ve been able to perform even better over lockdown because of our facilities investment and thanks to our 10-year drive to transform the way that we work together.”
The investment programme began in 2018 at the Dublin warehouse & offices, known as Ashtown Packaging. The second depot upgrade was in 2019 for the Warwickshire depot, where more warehouse space allowed the expansion of the innovative Stock Guarantee range.
Invopak’s current project is the purchase and renovation of a brand-new head office in Hyde, Manchester, about to open, which will bring much-needed additional warehouse space and brand-new offices.
