LOOKING BACK
DEBATE VOLATILITY
lly funded ERDF Assist , AMRC used specialist are to create a factory plan eality fly-through. This business to visualise the as well as having exact and machines plotted into
ey, manufacturers of large spoke equipment, wanted how its designs would look uctures would interrelate nufacture. Working with the al reality team, the business sible to immerse itself in the lating the final build.
Adlington needed to gather ormation from its processes.
ped out the workflow nd identified how it could and the internet of things to data in one place.
tions struggle with y insertion into their enterprises. The
West will help overcome of integrating smart and big data for both new
l equipment. de to support by identifying
mprovement, developing the for investment, in-house implementation/training on the workforce, as well as d cost implications.
th West is currenting m its interim facility in Preston the new purpose-built world facility on the Samlesbury erprise Zone in September
part of the High Value Catapult network (HVMC).
ctory-like facilities provide the ment to test, scale and de- before transferring capability nd are supporting businesses UK, to bring new products to prove performance.
F RADAR programme will cated team at AMRC North develop rapid, flexible digital programme that Lancashire se to improve productivity veness.
ormation on the RADAR ontact. Nick Hall Business Manager 07510 409646
co.uk
Khalid Saifullah – Star Tissue UK
Most businesses face volatility in some shape or other but before the pandemic we really didn’t experience much, because hygiene products were being used across the board and we had regular orders.
We’ve seen a radical change. At the start of lockdown, we experienced huge demand because of panic buying. Then, with the lockdown, we saw a big dip because our primary business is supplying hospitality, tourism, offices, theme parks and the food sector. All of that being closed affected our business quite radically.
There were periods when we ordered too much raw material and periods when we didn’t order enough and again, were caught out.
After the new year it became a whole new game, with volatility in paper supply. There has not been enough recycled paper so people in that sector are facing huge price pressures. We’ve seen plastic prices going through the roof.
Then there’s the EU aspect. EU deliveries have been coming through with minor delays, we’ve had to change a lot of what we normally do. Deliveries to Ireland have been a pain, our customers there have been very patient with us. There is so much paperwork we’ve got to complete and send off prior to getting stuff over there.
Initially when the pandemic began, we reviewed, we looked at every aspect of the business. We had our vision of where we wanted to go, so we used that time to develop the business to where we need it to go.
We used the time to really look ahead. It’s helped us to understand our business a lot better and prepare it to be much stronger when we come out of the pandemic.
Khalid Saifullah
LANCASHIREBUSINESSVIEW.CO.UK YEARS 5 PET FIRM’S POST-PANDEMIC
GROWTH JOURNEY May/June 2021
The Covid pandemic fuelled volatility across all sectors. In this issue we brought together business leaders to share their experiences of those uncertain times and the lessons they had learned.
Tony Raeburn, chief executive of Blackburn based Pets Choice, described it as ‘an interesting year’. He revealed he had bought a large company before the pandemic hit and ‘had to make some big changes’.
However, he stressed there was good news for the manufacturer as 3.5 million more households had bought a pet since the outbreak of the pandemic, adding to the customer base for its growing range of goods.
He said: “We’ve had record sales; we’ve probably taken on another 30 employees during the pandemic, so from that side it’s been good.”
Tony also highlighted exporting difficulties posed by Brexit, describing it as a ‘complete disaster’.
Five years later, editor Ged Henderson spoke to Tony about the continued success of the business.
He revealed the group’s turnover had grown to £120m and shared how he was looking ahead to the next big milestone for his business – smashing the £200m milestone.
Under his leadership the business has become the largest privately owned pet care manufacturer in the UK.
Tony explained how strategic brand acquisitions sit at the heart of its growth journey. The deals have come thick and fast over the past two years and it now exports to more than 50 countries.
He said: “Pets Choice has had a long history in Blackburn and I’m incredibly proud that the town remains such an important part of our story.”
10 YEARS PAULINE ANSWERS
THE BIG QUESTION May/June 2016
A panel of four business leaders were asked ‘The Big Question’. Would a slow-down in the economy affect investment and growth in Lancashire?
Sharing a positive outlook has never been a problem for Pauline Rigby, now Pauline Wild, who at the time was a partner for corporate and restructuring at Forbes Solicitors.
She said that manufacturing employment and output made up a large component of the Lancashire economy and safeguarding the sector was paramount.
Pauline told us: “It is essential that manufacturing firms are provided with a more favourable business environment with fewer administrative burdens.”
Just 12 months ago, she featured on the cover of the magazine, highlighting her role as managing partner of Forbes – leading a Lancashire headquartered business with 384 employees, 50 partners and directors and a £24.5m turnover that is growing year-on-year.
She looked back on the days when she was a woman on a mission – to show that a mother with young children could also play an influential role in a leading law firm.
The mum-of-two told us: “I wanted to be instrumental, to show that women could have that kind of role and also be a parent. Also to show that we could have more of a balanced leadership board.”
ON A ROLL May/June 2006
Khalid Saifullah developed his early taste for business as a youngster, joining his father Allah Ditta as he made deliveries around the UK.
When he joined the family’s paper tissue making company in Blackburn, he began to put his own stamp on things.
Khalid introduced new production methods to make its products more accessible to the market and within two years he turned the company into a multi-million-pound turnover business.
In this edition he talked about another of his roles as chief executive of the Asian Business Federation (ABF), Britain’s leading Asian businesses support organisation.
He spoke of the important role it played and told us: “We have come a long way in a very short time, and we will continue to develop what we offer our members.”
Khalid held the managing director’s role at Star Tissue UK – one of the UK’s leading independent manufacturers of hygiene paper products – until 2024, when it was acquired by WEPA Professional, a Belgian family run business with a turnover of more than £1bn.
He remained as managing director of the operation until May last year and then became a strategic advisor.
Speaking to Lancashire Business View soon after the sale of his family business to the big-name European player, he said: “It has been an incredible journey so far. It just shows just where you can take something.”
LANCASHIREBUSINES SV
IEW.CO.UK
entering and nominating Find out more here
about sponsoring, 20 YEARS TISSUE BOSS WAS
Venue: Park Hall Resort and Spa
Date: Friday
October 16 2026 Entries open soon
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IN ASSOCIATION WITH:
FROM VOLATILITY TO VICTORY
The Covid pandemic has fuelled volatility in all sectors. With foreign exchange and global payment experts AFEX we brought together a panel of business leaders to discuss how businesses have coped with massive uncertainty and managed their volatilities, and what lessons they are learning from the roller-coaster ride
PRESENT: Richard Slater
Lancashire Business View (chair)
Peter Walshe AFEX
Dawn Stockell VEKA
Tony Grimshaw What More UK
Tony Raeburn Pets Choice
Rollie Attard Panaz
Peter Slater CMAC Group
Khalid Saifullah Star Tissue UK
Awards 2026
By Rob Kelly
In this feature we delve into our archives to revisit some of the stories we have shared over the past two decades
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