From The Irish News

DELTA Packaging is one of the UK and Ireland's largest and most progressive independent carton packaging manufacturing groups, with operations in Northern Ireland and Poland.

Established in 1981, Delta supplies global companies within the retail food, consumer electronics, household goods, dairy, pharmaceutical and food service sectors with innovative packaging to reinforce brand identity and drive market share.

Delta's ability to consistently deliver bespoke packaging is due to the expertise of staff who collectively aspire to create one big 'family' of genius.

This ethos is something which chairman Terry Cross OBE continually fosters, firm in the belief that people are the key to business success and mutual trust is the engine of growth.

Within the packaging industry, Delta is as much a household name as some of its global brands which include McDonald's Corporation, Kellogg's, KFC, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Greiner Packaging, Nestle, Guinness and many other favourite labels.

Having grown its business exponentially since inception 35 years ago by founder and chairman Terry Cross, the company continues to invest in the future.

Approximately 18 months ago, Delta announced a £40 million investment programme to grow sales across a number of existing and new customer accounts.

This investment has assisted in securing new customers and contracts worth £8 million over the next two years, with the potential to develop into £10million per annum in the medium term.

The investment plan involved the construction of a 100,000 sq ft purpose-built factory in Gliwice, in Poland, which operates under the name 'European Packaging Solutions' and serves to expand the European supply chain network while providing a supply base for central European countries.

It offers flexo and litho printing options with a full range of converting capability and at the same time exploits Delta's reach in the European food service business, with the aim to facilitate further growth with existing customers.

"The investment followed the acquisition of new customers, as well as more work coming in from existing clients," Mr Cross explained.

"It was also prompted by the fact the firm has customers in Europe who need the security and contingency of supply that the two sites now provide."

Delta Packaging is a major employer, with almost 400 staff across both bases, constituting a skilled workforce committed to driving innovation within the sector.

Innovation, sustainable barrier coatings, automated processes and benchmark production capabilities are the cornerstones of the company's progressive philosophies.

By working closely with clients to create packaging solutions which meet their specific needs - while still supporting the 'green' credentials of managed forestry products - Delta has remained at the forefront of the global packaging industry.

Underlining a drive for business and recognition of the importance of corporate social responsibility, Mr Cross purchased Chateau de La Ligne in the Bordeaux region of France in 2000.

As well as producing an award-winning superior red wine and using the chateau for customer hospitality, he has aided many charities in their efforts by auctioning vineyard bottles at fundraising events.

A member of the Institute of Directors, CBI, Business in the Community and the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Cross has more recently been appointed president of the British Red Cross in Northern Ireland.

He is also actively involved in a number of community projects, including the Integrated Education Fund, West Belfast Partnership Boards and the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Enterprise Council.