In this first in a new series of Face to Face interviews, Neil Nixon speaks with Paul Fecher, Chairman at Northwood Group, as his company celebrates 50 years at the forefront of the market.
Can you describe the Northwood business today, a business that provides paper hygiene solutions for every market sector?
The Northwood group of associated companies is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of Away-from-Home and Retail CONSUMER paper hygiene and wiping products.
Northwood has expanded organically and via an ambitious programme of acquisitions to become one of the industry’s only vertically integrated groups, with activities including raw material supply, manufacturing, end user product converting, storage, and transportation. This integration enables the organisation to ensure excellence throughout.
We have three UK paper mills in Disley, Chesterfield and Lancaster. We also operate a paper mill in Spain as well as our converting (paper processing) facility in Madrid. The UK converting businesses operate in both the away-from-home (AfH) and retail consumer sectors. Our AfH route to market is business to business.
We look after several national accounts and independent distributors that service customers in all areas of the market including, education, food service, office supplies, health care, hospitality, and the FM sector.
What are your key brands, particularly those aimed at the away-from-home markets?
Northwood Hygiene has three value-added brands that serve the away-from-home market. These are North Shore, Raphael and Whisper.
The North Shore premium proprietary system of washroom dispensers and consumables is designed to deliver zero waste and volume in use. Offering industry-leading capacity and supreme cost-in-use benefits, it is easy to install and maintain, as well as being durable, hygienic and environmentally sustainable.
The comprehensive Raphael proprietary washroom solution was developed to cater for any washroom environment, whether it is large, small, high or low footfall. It delivers improved washroom hygiene standards, whilst also saving money and reducing waste.
Whisper is our range of premium toilet rolls, facial tissues and airlaid hand towels. The range was expanded this year to include Whisper Eco – a premium, environmentally-friendly 2-ply toilet tissue, which is wrapped in paper.
How have you seen the industry change since Northwood was established 50 years ago?
Technological advancements have played a big part in the development of finished goods and the quality of products we make today is at a different level to what it was several decades ago. At Northwood, for instance, we have made substantial investment into state-of-the-art equipment that enables us to manufacture advanced tissue products for both the home and industrial client base.
Environmental considerations also play a much bigger part in our day-to-day activities, with carbon reduction processes being a key focus of the business.
Being a paper-based business, how do you meet the ESG aims of your customers?
We have a very ambitious ESG plan. Carbon reduction is a prime objective and, to achieve net zero by 2050, we have set significant scope 1, 2 and 3 reduction targets every year. We use recycled fibres in more than 75% of finished goods and all pure pulp is from 100% certified sources. We work hard with our suppliers to reduce the amount of plastic and have recently moved to 50% PCR for all our printed film.
We are also very proactive in the community to support local initiatives. We partner with Trees for Cities and last year funded the planting of over 1000 trees in UK urban areas.
Beyond paper, can you outline some of your wider washroom solutions, including dispensers?
We provide soap, toilet roll and hand towel dispensers as part of our Raphael and Northwood proprietary washroom ranges.
Our high-capacity, controlled-use dispensers are designed to restrict the use of consumables and prevent overuse. Not only does this help to reduce costs, it also reduces waste and is therefore more environmentally sustainable. Constructed from durable Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic for scratch and impact resistance, our dispensers are sealed, and splash-proof to keep products safely stored inside. They are also lockable to prevent theft or vandalism and can be operated with a universal key.
Our dispensers also feature inspection windows, so it is easy for maintenance teams to check stock levels without having to open the units. Northwood dispensers are easy to install and maintain and are provided free-on-loan to end users.
As you celebrate Northwood’s 50th year in business, what have been your greatest highlights/proudest moments?
Entering into recycled tissue production and converting in 2009 was a major milestone. In taking over the Disley and Kruger industrial factories, we saved 200 jobs, successfully steered the business to profit and formed the foundations of today’s Northwood brand.
Personal highlights for me are working with excellent colleagues and also my sons Marc and Adam. I was very proud to be thanked by staff members at the end of 2020 for successfully directing the business and managing to keep our AfH business running both our converting and paper mills when the pandemic forced many companies to furlough their staff for long periods.
As a regular supporter of the Cleaning Show, taking place next March, can you outline why this event is so important to Northwood?
We have been a supporter of the Cleaning Show for many years, right back from when it was at the NEC.
The show is the biggest of its kind in the UK and we see it as a great opportunity to reinforce our value-added brands and engage with customers new and old. The last Cleaning Show in 2023 was one of the best we’ve witnessed for many years. Footfall was up and we secured some significant new business.
Staying with the Cleaning Show, how have you seen the event evolve over the years and what would you like to see going forward?
I would potentially like to see the event return to the NEC. Our customers are based throughout the UK, and we tend to find the show has become more regionalised since it moved to Excel. For many of our northern and Scottish customers it is a difficult commute to the London docklands.
To finish, can you give us a peek into what the future might hold for Northwood?
We look forward to the next 50 years with managed succession as our management team takes the business further and we continue to expand our integrated offering to our valued clients. We will also continue to prioritise looking after the welfare of all our employees.
Our commitment, both as managers and as a family, is to develop the business, to continue to invest in it and to be the supply partner for customers and suppliers in the UK, across Europe and beyond. I continue to enjoy this special dynamic trade and the amazing global network we have established during more than 50 years in the paper, tissue and hygiene industry.
www.northwood.co.uk