The Invest Plymouth Team recently visited R. West & Son as part of our business relationship programme for a chat with Managing Director, Jason Kennedy.
R. West & Son has been a key part of Plymouth since 1910 and is still the City’s leading manufacturer of timber packaging. They supply everything from wooden crates and pallets to a range of packaging and shipping solutions with 90% of their customer base right here in Plymouth.
What really stands out is their commitment to sustainability and Net Zero. They use a biomass burner that turns wood offcuts into energy, powering their whole building with heat.
Since moving to larger Ocean Quay premises in 2022, the business has grown steadily under Jason’s leadership and there’s plenty more to come.
Keep an eye on R. West & Son as they continue to grow in #BritainsOceanCity!
What is the name of the company and how long have you been in Plymouth?
R. West & Son has been in Plymouth since 1910, originally as ‘Viggars and Popham’ and purchased by the West family in 1922.
What is the sector that you specialise in?
Packaging Solutions, primarily bespoke timber packaging but also CNC cutting services and site packing.
In 20 words, how would you describe the business?
R. West & Son are the south west’s packaging experts. Plymouth based and family-owned for more than a century.
Do you supply to Plymouth/SW/UK-wide/overseas?
We primarily supply the south west but have supplied countrywide. Our customers use our products to ship globally.
What would you say was your best-selling product/service?
ISPM15 Bespoke timber packaging.
What would you say is the best thing about doing business in Plymouth?
Plymouth offers a superb business community who seems to have each other back, our supply chain, as well as our customer base is very robust. It’s also a glorious place to live and work.
And what of the future … where do you see the business in 10 years’ time?
We purchased a new facility in 2022 which is more than five times the size of our original site in Sutton Road, the next 10 years will see us growing into this space.
And how about yourself … how long have you worked at R West and what is your role?
I was a customer of R. West & Son for 25 years and knew Rob West very well, I knew he was the end of the family line with any business interest so we had a conversation and shook hands on a deal. My Wife (Angela) and I made an initial investment in 2017 and the final payment and took full control as Managing Director in 2019, just months before Covid!
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I have a great passion for cars and motorsport and often go the Grand Prix at Silverstone and have recently discovered Electric Mountain bikes which is great for the knees in around hilly Plymouth.
If you could have a business lunch with anyone who could significantly influence you/the business, who would that be and why?
Probably James Timpson of the Timpson group who has taken a traditional family shoe repair business and transformed it into multi service high street chain.