A packaging and logistics firm has expanded its footprint in the West Midlands by investing in a second warehousing operation. Lesters has invested £100,000 in launching the base in south Staffordshire where it has fitted out the 25,000 sq ft facility near its headquarters in Mount Road, Burntwood, with flexible racking.
It can now store more than 2,000 pallets at the site and has created 15 new jobs as part of the investment. This latest move, coupled with its existing Lesters Logistics facility in Nuneaton, has taken the company's storage space capacity to 47,000 sq ft.
It said the launch would help the firm bring its storage of its stocked items in-house, reducing lead times and aiming to achieve better customer service for clients in the aerospace, automotive, pharma, renewables and online shopping sectors.
A new warehouse manager has already been appointed to oversee the additional operation.
Managing director Billy Hutchinson said: "We have a three-year expansion plan that will see the business move to £25 million of annual sales and getting more of our stock under our control is an important step in making that happen. It was previously outsourced and that didn't give us the flexibility we needed, especially with more customers coming online by the day.
"Taking on the unit, a stone's throw from our current factory, gives us a lot more space for our stocked items, as we are increasing our ability to offer more stock and serve options to clients. Supply chain challenges are a big talking point for our customers.
"Recent events and uncertainty have created a need for many UK businesses to increase their security of supply for the critical packaging lines they require. This will help us provide the security they are looking for."
Lesters said the past 12 months had been transformative for the company, boosted by the surge in online shopping during the pandemic lockdowns which had seen turnover rise to £16 million and its payroll increase to 60 people.
It has invested £7 million in the installation of new equipment and machinery which it said had enabled it to reduce lead times and increase capacity.
Mr Hutchinson added: "We are exploring a way of creating our own ecosystem where we have full control over the whole of the packaging production process, from print ink and design, right through to distribution through Lesters Logistics in Nuneaton.
"That was our first acquisition by the current management team, with plans in place to look at other complementary businesses that give us greater market share, access to new customers and wider geographic reach.
"We have an action plan in place to offer new and existing clients the opportunity to find alternative solutions and, importantly, become a more sustainable business in the process."
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