Thirty jobs have been created at a floristry, party and wedding firm.

Apac Packaging, of Rothley, opened a 56,000 sq ft warehouse last week after revealing plans to build it in 2013.

The warehouse has been built on land privately owned by the family who run Apac Packaging, and has room for further expansion.

It was jointly funded by HSBC and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.

Roger Mackay, managing director of Apac, said: "The business has been going for more than 50 years. It was founded by my father-in-law and his brother.

"Originally, the business started off as a horticultural grower and would work from green houses and nurseries.

"This warehouse is an investment back into the business by the family who run it.

"Our initial application consisted of building a warehouse with 11 separate units.

"But having built this larger unit, we are now aiming to double the size of it with the approval of Charnwood Borough Council."

Last year, the firm expanded into the party products market after the company's suppliers wanted to generate more business in the UK.

In April, the firm acquired Nottingham-based floristry wholesaler Wilfrid Whittingtons, which has a branch in Chiswick Road, Freemans Common, Leicester, after receiving an additional loan from HSBC.

Recently, the firm acquired another florist firm in Norwich, which has taken its staff from 50 to 150.

The firm has doubled its workforce to 60 in Leicestershire ahead of the new warehouse opening.

One of the firm's most popular products is its balloons – it has more than 800 designs in stock.

Roger said: "We have the best balloon supplier in the world in Mexico and they wanted us to increase our business with balloons in the UK, so moving into the party market was a logical place to go."

The firm's turnover has increased steadily, from £2.5 million in 2000, to a projected £22 million for the year ending June 2015.

Roger said: "We have decided now to expand the company as we have the younger generation coming into the business.

"Over the past few years, we have tried to make sure the business employs a lot of local people, and we want to continue this over the next few years.

"We don't have a particularly high staff turnover – for example, my secretary has been with us for 23 years.

"In the future, we want to grow the business and go into Europe a bit more. We currently supply to about half-a-dozen countries.

"Ninety-five per cent of our products are imported from China, India and from Mexico."

 

leicestermercury.co.uk

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