Under the extended agreement, the Leicestershire-based firm will continue to offer IP’s SBS brand Everest, which it has stocked and distributed for around 15 years.

It will also expand its range to include the US-manufactured Carolina, which comprises one and two-sided coated solid bleached sulphate boards targeted at markets including greetings cards, book covers, DM, catalogues and luxury packaging.

Warren Board Sales managing director Kieran Ferguson said: "We already have a firm relationship with International Paper and helped them develop their Everest brand into Europe. The company now wants to develop Carolina in the same way so we will work with the brand and effectively be a stepping stone to it gaining a presence in Europe."

Other new brands offered by Warren Board under the new deal include high quality folding box-board products Arktika and Alaska, which are produced at IP’s Polish mill in Kwidzyn and aimed at the pharmaceutical, confectionary and cosmetics markets.

Ferguson added that there would most likely be further speciality board developments.

International Paper’s commercial director for coated paperboard and recycled specialities, Michael Krüger, said: "The strengthening of this partnership will help International Paper develop its coated board presence in the UK and Irish graphical and converting sectors and provide a more comprehensive service and value proposition to these markets."