Germany’s WEPA Professional has boosted its presence in the British tissue market after acquiring Blackburn, Lancashire-based hygiene paper provider Star Tissue UK.
The newly acquired entity will operate under the name ‘WEPA Professional UK’, which WEPA said confirms its strategic commitment to further growth in the UK’s professional hygiene market.
Andreas Krengel, Chief Executive Business Unit Professional of the WEPA Group, said: “WEPA stands for the production of high-quality tissue paper, and the UK market is strategically important for us.
“We are delighted to continue the impressive growth of Star Tissue with Managing Director Khalid Saifullah and his team as WEPA Professional UK.”
Saifullah, who will remain as Managing Director, said that WEPA Professional UK “aims to drive the integration process and foster continued growth.”
He said: “In WEPA Professional, we have found a partner that shares our values and stands for high-quality products and first-class customer service.”
Star Tissue has three state-of-the-art fully automated converting lines, a warehouse and modern office space.
Thanks to the acquisition, customers will benefit from an expansion of the product portfolio and an international production network of the WEPA Group in the UK and at 12 other locations in Europe.
WEPA added that WEPA Professional and Star Tissue UK are “committed to a seamless transition, maintaining operations, and retaining the current workforce.”
Founded in 2003 as a family business, Star Tissue is one of the UK’s leading independent manufacturers of hygiene paper products.
The Blackburn site has 130 employees and produces a range of high-quality tissue products including the Sirius, Bliss, Kleenall, and Softelle brands.
The Blackburn plant has a converting capacity of 27,000tpy.
WEPA Professional is a leading hygiene specialist in Europe with brands including BlackSatino and Satino by WEPA.
WEPA Professional is part of the WEPA Group, a family business headquartered in Germany, with 13 European production sites.
The UK presence also includes a site in Bridgend, Wales, for its Consumer Business Unit.
