Special Report


Energetic growth


WK Thomas reflects over the past 30 years in the business of designing and manufacturing disposable and rotable airline catering products and packaging


Onboard Hospitality visited WK Thomas’ Surrey headquarters to get an update on what has been happening over the past few months, not to mention the past 30 years. Managing director, Peter Crown and Des Thurgood, sales director, have between them been associated with the business for over 45 years. As Peter said: “When discussing our plans for ITCA 2011 we were astonished to realise that this is our 30th consecutive show, having been a founder member of IFCA in 1981. “The industry has come a long way since


those early years, but with all the changes and challenges W.K. Thomas still remains true to the values it had then: offering customers a quality of service and a wide choice of products in the UK.” The site is currently undergoing a refurbishment


programme that will be completed in the spring of 2011, when the operation will once again have a comprehensive showroom facility. “Naturally the company has had to adapt and change but we continue to offer the same daily service to all major airports in the UK -- just with larger vehicles and a product range that is ten times the size,” says Peter. So what’s new today, we asked Des Thurgood.


“We have grown our export business significantly since those early days, and where we tended to be led by the market we are now pro-actively developing products that we consider will benefit our customers in their efforts to control costs but at the same time enhance the service they offer.” This energetic product development effort is underlined by Peter who says the company will be releasing one new product a month during 2011, starting with SmartBox that is on the stand this year in Nice. Adds Des: “This product evolved because one


of our major customers was keen to continue using ovenable board for the entrée dish, but for consumer satisfaction needed to have a fully integrated, heat-sealed lid. Six months later, after successfully developing the tracer cut peel system, the product is ready to launch this summer.” Now the company has mastered the process, the capability exists to develop a range of products for all kinds of hot dishes, even soup and


100 www.onboardhospitality.com


Top: Twilight at WK Thomas premises in Surrey; above left: look out for the SmartBox in Nice; right: The flexible zebra box bag


desserts, added Peter. “By virtue of the production technique we can vary the gauge of the lid over the tray to reduce cost whilst at the same time improving the cooking performance over more conventional products”. The product has been entered into this year’s


Mercurys awards at ITCA which Des sees as an important tool in marketing a new product and maximising exposure. “Last year’s entry, the BoxBag, whilst not a winner in the contest, has gone on to be highly successful in the marketplace,” he comments. “The product combines the flexibility of a paper bag which folds into a more rigid box-style construction, bringing


benefits throughout the supply chain in terms of handling, storage and performance in use.” Being part of the Bunzl group of companies has allowed WK Thomas to retain its unique identity and service ethos whilst bringing advantages in terms of access to global resources, IT facilities and purchasing agreements, says Peter. He adds: “It was important to retain our own in-house design capability, with two full- time designers as a platform for offering a comprehensive service from initial concept right through to finished product, again part of the service adding value to the customer proposition. In summing up, 2011 is going to be an exciting year with several new products due for launch and a new sense of purpose about the challenges that lie ahead.” www.wkthomas.com


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