Market leading aluminium foil tray manufacturer, i2r Packaging Solutions, has been presented with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade at a recent ceremony held at their premises. The company, who won the award in 2020, but could not formally receive the award due to pandemic restrictions, finally took receipt of their commemorative Queen’s Award vase from Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Mrs Anna Turner JP. Having recently moved their head office staff into new offices close to the manufacturing site, as part of an ongoing expansion plan, i2r also asked the Lord-Lieutenant to officially open the new premises by unveiling a plaque.

Operating as part of the Italian Laminazione Sottile Group - one of the leading global suppliers of aluminium products - i2r was one of only 220 UK organisations to win a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise. The firm was recognised for its excellence in international trade, which has seen the firm return outstanding year on year growth in the last few years.

Established as an environmentally responsible packaging company in 2007, i2r is currently in the fourth year of a 2018-2022 strategic plan. The firm’s key goals, objectives and vision include delivering new product ranges, diversifying into new geographical regions and market sectors, championing engineering innovation and to be the lowest cost manufacturer in its sector - all strategies designed to fulfil ambitious financial targets.

The company’s international focus for ongoing further growth is concentrated on countries where there is a desire for high-quality convenience foods, together with demographic similarities in terms of shopping and eating habits, population density and levels of income when compared to the UK market.

Commenting on the presentation, i2r’s commercial operating officer, Jon West, said: “It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to welcome the Lord-Lieutenant to our site. Not only we were delighted to finally receive our Queen’s Award, it was an added bonus that we could also officially commemorate the opening of our new head office building.”

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards emblem for the next five years.