KM Packaging Reinforces North American Commitment with DRB Sales Partnership

KM Packaging are pleased to announce the further commitment to the North American market by developing a closer collaboration with industry veteran Tom Ream of DRB Sales

Tom Ream has been in the packaging business since 1990 and is listed as the inventor on multiple aluminum pan patents widely available in supermarkets across the United States.

DRB Sales offers a range of packaging options, including aluminum pans and trays of all sizes from individual desserts to Thanksgiving turkeys. With over 25 years’ experience Tom Ream has built a huge level of trust within the North American market.

Tom will work alongside KM’s North American Entity, KM Packaging Services NA Corporation, under the support and guidance of Commercial Director John Shipley and the wider KM team.

John Shipley, Commercial Director Export at KM Packaging, welcomes the further development:

“We’ve worked with Tom for over a decade but this announcement more formally recognises our commitment to our mutual collaboration in North America. Tom has vast experience and a wealth of knowledge to provide our customers with a more localised support and advice. Tom has both the personal experience and extended support of the KM’s commercial, technical and operations teams to advise customer on the best solution for their specific application. The trust and reputation he’s built in the industry over the years is second to none. We’re looking forward to working even more closely together in the future”

Tom Ream of DRB Sales commented on the enhanced collaboration:

“Working with KM Packaging has always been a lot of fun, and I look forward to many years of successful collaboration ahead. The innovative films and techniques created by KM Packaging are years ahead what the North American market is currently using. This means we can make a real impact here in the US and improve the food products making their way into American homes.”

Both Tom Ream and John Shipley will be at the Refrigerated Food Association Conference on the 17-18th February. The pair are happy to discuss the role of flexible films, aluminum pans, and sustainability in the future of the American food industry.

Talking to Tom earlier this week, ahead of the RFA show, we discussed his approach to packaging and customer service, his predictions about the future of the industry in North America, and what the ‘DRB’ stands for.
“I am very customer service orientated. I go out to please,” says Tom when we asked about how he built up such a depth of trust within the industry.

“At the end of the day all I have is my integrity, all I have is my name in the industry. And If you know that’s all you have then you’ve got to build that trust level with your customers,” he explains, “you’ve got to be honest with them. You’ve got to get back to them in a reasonable time. And you’ve got to look at what they're really going to need, what they're looking for and have that conversation with them. I have customers who call me up regardless of what type of packaging it is they need – they could call anyone, but they call me because they trust me.”

That counts as a win for Tom – and this attitude to customer service is one that fits perfectly with the high standards of KM Packaging.

We asked Tom for a prediction about the direction of the North American market, and how KM Packaging and DRB Sales fits into it.

“Packaging is going to change over here; it’s going to get more sustainable and Europe has already been there. Here we’re using thicker gauges to achieve results that KM are achieving with half the plastic.”

Tom sees that there is a shift coming from the larger supermarket chains in the US towards sustainability and recyclability – reducing the amount of plastic and replacing these with aluminum pans and appropriate lidding films.
“Once the larger grocery stores demand it, the suppliers will follow to match,” he adds.

And of course, Tom let us know exactly what the DRB in DRB Sales stands for.

DRB Sales got its name from a passing comment when the, at the time, single father of three boys brought his children to a regular social club event. As they arrived a friend commented that ‘here come those Damn Ream Boys again’ and it’s stuck.

“It could have been anything, darling Ream boy, daring Ream boys, but from that moment on they were my DRBs,” says Tom. The comment has lived on as a tattoo and a company of some 25 years’ experience. And here’s to many more!