Minister’s visit to innovative food packaging firm
KEMI Badenoch MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, visited to the Wilkins Group food packaging company in Colwick to catch up on its efforts to help food producers shift to sustainable packaging.
With more than 340 employees, the firm has been instrumental in developing innovative packaging, leading to the adoption of carton board over plastic by leading supermarkets.
Justin Wilkins, joint managing director, said: “To be recognised with a ministerial visit today was truly fantastic. Special thanks have to go to our constituency MP Tom Randall who made today’s visit possible.
“We have established a reputation as a ‘go to’ company for innovation, design and competitive production, but to be recognised for our efforts at such a high level is a great achievement for all. We wanted to highlight the plight of many packaging firms when it comes to recycling & environmental initiatives.
“Firms like ours are finding we are creating designs in a bid to eradicate single-use plastics wherever possible, but the recycling centres are not recycling the products effectively due to a lack of investment.”
Ms Badenoch said: “It has been a really interesting visit. I don’t meet many family-run businesses and it’s a really interesting dynamic. I need to get out to see more businesses like The Wilkins Group who are making a difference, to see how they can be best supported.”
Last year Andre Wilkins, group executive chairman, was invited to represent the company at a reception at 10 Downing Street.
The firm – well known for designing the LED light base for Marks & Spencer’s festive snow globe liqueurs – is setting its sights on achieving a £70m turnover in the next five years.