October 14th, 2010
A packaging company has committed its future to Bradford following council help to find a new larger site.
Weidenhammer UK has started construction work on its new home in Buttershaw having initially considered moving out of Bradford, where the company traces its roots back to 1851.
Bradford Council’s Invest in Bradford team worked closely with bosses at the composite can manufacturer, whose customers include United Biscuits, Cadbury and Nestle, to keep the firm in the district and retain its 40 local jobs.
The firm – whose parent group is based in Hockenheim, Germany - is now aiming to raise annual UK turnover from £8m to £15m by 2015, hopefully leading to the creation of further 20 to 30 jobs.
Weidenhammer Group Chief Executive Ralf Weidenhammer said: “We are very pleased to have found a suitable site from which we can grow significantly within the UK market.
“Bradford Council helped us a great deal in our search for a site and it was clear they were very supportive of our desire to stay within the area.”
Coun David Green, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration and Economy, said: “It is great news that such a well-established company like Weidenhammer has chosen to stay within the district and develop its business here.
“Bradford has a particularly strong manufacturing base, an expanding workforce and committed business support from us as a council which makes it an ideal place for companies to grow.”
Weidenhammer first became involved in Bradford via a joint venture with US-based Chesapeake which had purchased the former Field Group packaging business, established in the city in 1851.
In late 2008 the venture became completely owned by Weidenhammer and it currently operates on a shared 36,000sq ft site in Lidget Green. It is now relocating to a site in Royds Hall Lane and expects to move into its new 110,000 sq ft home in mid-2011.
Across Europe, Weidenhammer Packaging Group has 12 production sites employing nearly 1,000 staff and annual sales of over £180m.
