Staff at the company’s Nottingham headquarters will join customers, suppliers, invited dignitaries, and journalists when the ex-super-middleweight cuts the ribbon on Wednesday (December 7).
The boxer, who competed from 2002 to 2014, has connections with the company – his uncle Mick Froch has worked there for 46 years while his childhood home also used to back onto the Wilkins factory.
Carl Froch said that on a number of occasions he and his friends were chased off site by security guards after they’d jumped over Froch’s garden fence to play in the company’s waste paper skips.
“Wilkins has been there for as long as I remember, so I’m delighted to return to support the opening of their impressive new factory,” he said.
“It’s quite funny and a little bit ironic that I used to be chased off the site when I was a kid – but now they’ve actually invited me there in an official capacity. At least I won’t have to climb over any garden fences!
“When I think of the Wilkins Group, I think of my childhood and my uncle Mick, who’s still working there. They’re very fond memories.”
The company’s new 4,600sqm extension to its manufacturing facility will create dozens of extra jobs, vastly increasing its food packaging production capacity and reportedly making the site the biggest family-run factory in its sector.
Built at the rear of the existing headquarters, the extension is also set to bring an investment in several new machines.
Wilkins, which has won the International Trade Award and Family Business of the Year Award at the Midlands Family Business Awards, also has hubs in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and China.
Wilkins Group director Justin Wilkins said: “We’re so pleased that Carl threw his hat in the ring and agreed to come along and open our amazing new factory.
“Asking him to open the new premises was a unanimous decision and his involvement will really help to make this a knock-out event.
“The fact that he’s from Gedling in Nottingham, has family members connected to our firm and, of course, is into ‘boxing’ like we are, will make this a truly memorable occasion for everyone who’s worked so hard to get to this point.
“At this momentous stage in the company’s history, I would like to take this moment to thank all of our dedicated staff in playing their part in assisting us in our growth strategy.”
Guests at the official opening event will be given a tour of the new facility, providing an insight into the work that goes into designing and manufacturing food packaging.
Earlier this year the business installed a Heidelberg MK Mastermatrix 106 CSB. This followed last year's £1.1m installation of a Bobst Expertcut die-cutter.
