LIFESTYLE-Magazine-Winter-2016

What More UK is the UK’s largest manufacturer of plastic homewares and cookwares, producing 63.6million plastic products a year at their site in Altham

Here we chat to their director Tony GrimshawOBE about the company’s Made In Britain credentials, its commitment to the area and their vast export business.

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t’s highly likely you’ve got aWhambranded plastic storage container in your home. Whether it’s used to keep the kids’ Lego away from the dog’s jaws or to store food safely in the fridge, you’ve perhaps never considered how close to home it wasmade. WhatMore UKwas established in 1999 by Burnley businessman Andy Holt. The business launchedwith 15 products, mainly plastic garden items, and turned over £4.5million in its first year. Now, supplying some 1,800 independent stores and some huge nationwide retailers, the company operates froma 500,000 square feet site, and sales have risen to £48million. Today,WhatMore UKmanufactures over 700 product lines including plastic storage boxes to plant pots, pet beds, washing up bowls, buckets and bins, sold under the trusted and value-for-moneyWhambrand.The business also has an extensive range of non-stick bakeware, including enamelware and the PushPan range of silicone sealed bakeware. WhatMore UK is a proudmember and supporter of theMade In Britain campaign, which champions the strength and quality of UKmanufacturing.WhatMore UK director Tony GrimshawOBE says, “We’re very passionate about our British-made roots here at WhatMore.We are a firmset up by a local lad, creating jobs for local peoplewith high qualitymanufacturing at its core.” Tony Grimshaw is proud ofWhatMore UK’s involvement in theTomKerridge range. He says, “Tomwas impressed by the scale of our manufacturing operation and the fact that we can take a product fromoutline concept to consumer-ready, all in-house. Hewas searching for high quality Britishmade products hewas happy to put his name on, andwewere delighted thatWhatMore UK fit the brief.” In 17 years of businessWhatMore UK has not only sold its plastic housewares, garden products, storageware and bakeware into retail chains and independent stores nationwide, but also conqueredmarkets across the globe. Tony says that, without a doubt, ‘Made in Britain’ goes downwell in overseasmarkets. “It sounds a bit old-fashioned but there’s still an aura around Britishmanufactured products in export: it oozes quality and reliability and service, the ingredients that don’t seem to be in abundance.” The company began exporting its products in 2007.Today exports account for 15%of WhatMore UK’s annual turnover as the business looks way beyond Europe and doesn’t show any signs of faltering in the post-Brexit economy.Tony says, “Our export teamhas worked hard on newmarkets and it’s to their credit that our products are now shipped to a staggering 68 countries worldwide, including China, Brazil, Australia and themost recent additionVietnam.” Earlier this year, the company won the favour of double Michelin star celebrity chefTomKerridge as he launched his signature range of Britishmade kitchenware. Aer the chef visitedWhatMore UK’s state-of-the-art toolroomat its Althamsite,WhatMore UK put into production a set of three nested enamel oven trays bearing theTomKerridge insignia.The range is now available in high-end cookware retailers and department stores.

In 2014 the company picked up the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in InternationalTrade in recognition of its export success. “We’re trying to reverse the trend of bringing everything back fromChina,” explainsTony, determined to stem the flowof manufacture away fromBritain where possible.Themain challenge, he says, is ‘having the balls’ to do it. “It’s about grasping the problemand just doing it. A lot of industries have died and skills have been lost, and you just cannot replace those skills. Nowwhenwe take people on we train themup ourselves because there’s not amarket to tap into. “As a business we’re happy to support apprentice programmes, ”Tony adds – this year WhatMore UK took on two new apprentices in a three year engineering training programme. “Aer all, the engineering apprentices of today are the WhatMore UK production directors of the future.” The Hyndburn business is also a loyal supporter of Accrington Stanley FC, withWhat More UK’s owner Andy Holt having invested heavily in the club at the start of their historic 2015/16 season. Andy, now a director of the club, has helped Accrington Stanley to pay off its debts and aract a higher calibre of player. Andy Holt also led the refurbishment of theWham Stadium - sponsored byWhatMore UK’s leading brand – over the summer of 2015. What’s next forWhatMore UK?Tony Grimshaw answers, “We’ll continue to invest in our business facilities, our workforce and our products.The secret to our success is, simply, continuous investment.That and innovation - at WhatMore UKwe spend £2.5million a year on newproduct development.”

High quality manufacturing at its core

Left Main: What More UK’s director Tony Grimshaw OBE is proud of UK manufacturing. Inset: What More UK’s headquarters and presence at Accrington Stanley’s Wham Stadium.

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