Leeds-based LVF Packaging has marked its 40th anniversary in style – posting its best-ever monthly sales, with turnover exceeding \u00a31m in a single month for the first time in its history.<\/p>\n
The family-owned manufacturer, which now operates from a 25,000 sq ft facility at Hunslet Business Park, was founded in 1985 when Harry Coates and his son Nigel built their first vacuum-forming machine in a garden shed. What began as a retirement project for Harry \u2013 a former employee at Leeds-based games company John Waddington\u2019s \u2013 soon turned into a thriving business, with its first order coming from Waddington\u2019s itself.<\/p>\n
Four decades on, the company is now run by third-generation family member Daniel Coates, and its products can be found on the shelves of virtually every major UK supermarket and across numerous High Street brands.<\/p>\n
LVF, which turns over \u00a38m a year and employs 46 staff, produces MAP (modified atmosphere packaging) and skin pack trays for protein suppliers, alongside packaging for confectionery, beverages and retail gift packs. Its customers include household names such as Morrisons, Lindt and Border Biscuits.<\/p>\n
The company also continues to invest heavily in sustainability. LVF recycles 100% of its in-house plastic waste, and now generates around 50% of its annual energy needs from a \u00a3700,000 solar installation supported by low-carbon generation and 1.5MW of battery storage.<\/p>\n
Daniel Coates, owner and business development director, said: \u201cI wasn\u2019t even born when my dad and grandad built that first thermoforming machine in the garden shed. But I love that they just went ahead and did it \u2014 and even more that they managed to win work from John Waddington\u2019s. I can\u2019t imagine that happening today.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cTo be leading the business as we celebrate our 40th anniversary is something both my dad and I are hugely proud of. The company has stayed true to the values my grandad built it on \u2013 delivering high-quality thermoformed solutions and providing the level of customer service we\u2019d expect ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
LVF continues to champion the role of plastics in responsible packaging, calling for a more coordinated approach to recycling to reduce waste and improve sustainability across the industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LVF, which turns over \u00a38m a year and employs 46 staff, produces MAP (modified atmosphere packaging) and skin pack trays for protein suppliers, alongside packaging for confectionery, beverages and retail gift packs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":271992,"featured_media":2145335,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53262],"coauthors":[137100],"class_list":["post-2145334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-news","tag-featured-story","tag-yorkshire"],"yoast_head":"\n