Cricklade-based GWP Packaging has renewed its contract with national organic food delivery company Abel & Cole to supply it with a range of bespoke packaging.
Under the three-year contract GWP will produce branded cardboard packaging, including beer packs, wine boxes, chill boxes, dividers, cartons and pallet board for Wimbledon-based Abel & Cole, ensuring its customers receive the products fresh and in the best condition possible.
GWP, which has worked with Abel & Cole since 2006, provides it with a specialist just-in-time delivery system that means it holds no packaging but receives deliveries precisely when it need them. The system means GWP can accurately predict Abel & Coles’ packaging needs up to four weeks in advance. Abel & Cole distributes to about 50,000 homes a week.
The firm’s head of production Rob Grimmer said: “We collect and recycle packaging materials from our customers and it’s not unusual for one of the boxes that GWP supplies to be used more than six times. This makes it very challenging both to get a box that is strong enough to last that many journeys and survive being filled with raw produce and being rained on, but also simply predicting what our usage of new boxes and therefore requirement will be.
“GWP provides us with a totally reliable service by making and holding a buffer stock and also by probably knowing more about our usage patterns than we do. We’ve recently completed a small redesign and full tender process and are delighted to be continuing with our well proven relationship with GWP.”
GWP managing director Ruth Cook added: “We’re very pleased to continue our relationship Abel & Cole. Due to the nature of their business, there are many demands placed on the packaging – it needs to be sturdy, able to cope in all weathers and reusable – and we are uniquely placed to offer this quality product as well as allowing them to take advantage of our just-in-time delivery system and reduce packaging storage costs.”
