Throw-away idea that has taken off (From Gazette Series)

Throw-away idea that has taken off

A FAMILY business that started life as a stopgap between jobs for its managing director from his Chipping Sodbury home is celebrating its 21st year in business this year. Kingswood-based Yate Disposables Limited has come a long way since its early days in an office bedroom. The company has recently been recognised as being top of its field in national awards voted by customers. Derek Aston told the Gazette how paper plates formed the foundations for a real success story.

THOSE of us who have taken a Britannia Airways flight or stopped in a Roadchef Motorway service station have probably not considered where the plates, toilet rolls or cutlery we use have come from.

It certainly would not occur to the majority of us that a lot of these products, and indeed many of those stocked in bars and restaurants throughout the country, have been supplied by a company based in a small corner of Kingswood.

The distributor of these products - Yate Disposables Ltd - has come a long way since it was started as a one-man-band by managing director Derek Aston in Chipping Sodbury.

When Mr Aston was made redundant from his position as catering development manager in a chain of hot bread kitchens following a shake-up in middle management in August, 1982 he started selling disposable catering products.

He explained it was only ever meant to be a stopgap.

"I had a promise of another job in a few months and as a fill-in started to sell disposable plates, cups and napkins. I noticed a gap in the market and saw the potential of the business and it went from there."

Twelve months later Mr Aston enlisted the help of neighbour Joan Cheriton, who, 20 years later, is still with the company as administration supervisor.

After a few months the business was moved into a small unit in Great Western Business Park in Yate.

But it was not until Mr Aston's wife joined the business in 1989 that the company that exists today really began to take shape.

Mr Aston said: "Cathy really realised the potential of the business - we changed the name to Yate Disposables Ltd and adopted the logo 'at your service'.

"With Cathy's support we re-focused the business and the logo really encompasses our commitment to professionalism and our customers."

1989 also marked the company's first major contract - Roadchef Motorway Group.

Mr Aston said: "Roadchef was looking for a consistent and reliable source of supply and, having heard of Yate Disposables by word of mouth, initially asked us to take on half of its sites. We very soon became the nominated supplier servicing Roadchef sites from Aberdeen to London."

The company still supplies the 31 sites - and the group accounts for 15 percent of its business.

The business continued to thrive in its Yate site and eventually outgrew the premises ten years ago.

Since moving to its new headquarters in Abbey Mills, Kingswood, Yate Disposables has continued to grow from strength to strength - now boasting a turnover of over £5.5 million.

It has seen a period of rapid expansion since moving to the Abbey Mills site - now employing over 44 people - with many living in and around Kingswood.

Although Yate Disposables now has national companies such as Britannia Airways and Roadchef on its books, Mr Aston said its roots are firmly in Kingswood and the company greatly values its local customer base.

He explained: "We have a diverse customer base including national and prestigious companies. But we have never forgotten our local customers who receive unrivalled service and back up.

"Size of customer is irrelevant. We care as much about providing a service to a mobile caterer, as we do many large caterers and contract cleaners. Within a 40-mile radius of Kingswood we are proven to be the preferred supplier for stock availability, choice and service."

The product-range has also evolved with janitorial supplies, cutlery, tabletop products and crockery just the tip of the iceberg of the products stocked in the 25,000sq ft warehouse.

Most recent innovation has been the development of a new MAXIMA brand with six other major independent distributors. Own-brand products has given the company increased buying and purchasing power.

Yate Disposables became even more family orientated with the addition of son Scott as a permanent member of the management team last March.

Mr Aston explained: "Scott had masterminded the Britannia Airway's project for us and we invited him to join the company as assistant general manager. He brings a wealth of IT and design skills to the company and has offered the support Cathy and I need to have a few well-earned breaks."

The hard work and dedication of the team was recognised when Yate Disposables scooped top prizes in the Foodservice Packaging Association's Distributor Excellent Awards in Birmingham last week.

Financial director Catherine Aston said the awards are a measure of the company's success - and demonstrate the loyal customer base it has built-up.

She added: "It is a testament to all the hard work our staff have been involved in over the past months to meet the requirements of the demanding market place we operate in."

Yate Disposables was pitted against other participating distributors in the nationwide competition, which was determined by independent research of customers.

Yate Disposables was awarded best telesales team and best business development leading to the company being named best independent distributor.