As we all know, membership of the European Union simplifies the flow of goods between us and our continental neighbours. Leaving on March 29th with or without a deal will result in a customs process that is far more complicated. What’s more, with many components of widely-used packaging having regular lead times of anything up to ten weeks, the delays caused by border chaos, procedure changes and navigating any new tariffs or customs charges could mean significant disruption of supply.
This is why, behind the scenes, KM Packaging has been preparing for any Brexit eventuality. Charles Smithson, KM Packaging Managing Director, explains the steps the company has already taken to be ready for Brexit:
“We understand just how vital a continuous supply of packaging and packaging materials is to our customers, especially for those working with raw food and fresh produce, where the window for packing is short and the potential cost of any lost stock is high. We also know there may be severe implications for those working in fresh produce beyond packaging, so we wanted to ensure our preparations meant customers in that market could stop worrying about packaging and focus on all the other things going on.
“With that in mind, we have been talking to our customers and suppliers, anticipating likely demand and disruption and making provisions for many months, investing hundreds of thousands of pounds in bringing stock and raw materials into the UK so our customers know we can provide continuous supply throughout the Brexit period, no matter what happens.
“Given our decades of experience working with customers around the globe, we also have unparalleled expertise in navigating all aspects of importing and exporting. We understand the ins and outs of international logistics, working with customs brokers and resolving issues on the other side of the world, all of which will be an invaluable advantage in trading internationally once the UK leaves the customs union.
“We have worked hard to be ready for Brexit; both our customers and any food manufacturers struggling with their film supply can rely on us to make their packaging the easiest part of their post Brexit supply chain, safe in the knowledge that it turns up on time and performs as it needs to, protecting, presenting and preserving their products no matter the political situation.”
Get in touch with our knowledgeable team today to find out how we can help you with your packaging needs.