Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
A housewares supplier has won a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2014.
What More UK has been recognised for its outstanding overseas sales growth. Established in 1999, it has developed rapidly to become a leading UK manufacturer of plastic housewares, gardening and storage products, under the brand name WHAM. The business currently exports to 48 countries, including the Far East, from its Lancashire manufacturing and distribution plant in Burnley.
The award will be officially granted by the Queen at a reception at Buckingham Palace on July 14 and the company will hold the award for five years.
What More UK director Tony Grimshaw said: “The whole company, its customers and its suppliers can feel, and rightly so, very, very proud of themselves. The award goes to all 165 employees who have all helped to win this. We presented the story, but it was the whole company that wrote it. A big thank you also goes to our suppliers and customers who, without their ongoing support, we would not be where we are today. We can’t wait to fly the Queen’s Award for Enterprise flag outside our headquarters.”
He added: “Receiving this award is a significant achievement and will enable us to grow further. What More are market leaders and our products are in all major retailers throughout the UK. This award gives us the confidence to continue investing, not to mention the recognition this gives to the manufacturing prowess of Lancashire and the North West of England.”
Last year the company opened its latest development: a 101,710sq ft distribution facility. It is the first phase of a £8m expansion plan and will be shortly followed with another 88,000sq ft construction on the same site. Both developments have enabled the company to bring its manufacturing and distribution operations under one roof, taking the total space to over 450,000sq ft.
