A key business figure has been to find out how a Coventry firm is helping the leisure and hospitality sector across the UK to become more sustainable – and how it has been learning from one of the biggest companies in the world.
Steve Harcourt, the president of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, paid a visit to Purple Planet Packaging – which is based on Seven Stars Industrial Estate – alongside Hazel Pilling, the Chamber’s international trade and membership manager.
Steve and Hazel were given the lowdown on the company’s plans for growth by husband and wife team, Mark and Joanna Farr, who run the business after they purchased it in 2019 and moved it from Cornwall to Coventry.
Purple Planet Packaging sells responsible packaging and containers for the food and drink industry, from cups to food-trays and from cutlery to take-away boxes.
It has recently signed a manufacturing deal with a UK-based company to create its own plastic-free, home compostable cups under a new Planetware brand and has already secured contracts with the likes of Coventry Building Society Arena to supply around 800,000 cups.
The business has seen turnover surpass the £1.3 million mark and is now looking to kick on with further growth.
Purple Planet Packaging has been supported in a range of ways by the Chamber, including linking Mark into the Amazon Accelerate Programme to give him an insight into some of the processes and ideas from one of the world’s biggest businesses.
Purple Planet Packaging is also sponsoring the Chamber’s Green Futures: Expo & Summit which is taking place at Ashorne Hill in Leamington on Thursday, September 19 from 10am until 2pm.
Mark said: “We were delighted to welcome Steve and Hazel and to talk about our next stages for growth.
“When we started the business, we wanted to get as much help and advice as possible and joining the Chamber was part of that because of its networks but also the expertise and knowledge they have.
“Joanna and I are passionate about Coventry and the wider region and while we want to grow the business for ourselves and for our family, we want to give back. We want to be a business that the city is proud of and one that invests and creates good jobs.
“It was good to chat through those plans but also to talk about some of the challenges you face when it comes to growing because being in business doesn’t run in a straight line as there is always something new to think about – whether its costs going up or trying to recruit key staff.
“So, being able to go on the Amazon Accelerate Programme was great for me and for the business. I just want to learn all the time and soak up as much information as possible and it was a real eye-opener.
“We see this is very much as a partnership with the Chamber so we are thrilled to be backing the Green Futures: Expo & Summit next month.”
Steve said: “We are fortunate to have so many great businesses here in Coventry and Warwickshire, who are innovating and growing and, in this instance, helping other companies to become more sustainable.
“I was fascinated to hear the back story but also the future of the business and we will do everything we can to support its growth.”