API announces new appointments to build on Foils side of the business

Brand enhancement specialist API has announced a number of new appointments to build on the success of its Foils sales and distribution centre in Sheffield, which has significantly increased both customers and revenues for the company since it opened.

Mike Kitchen joins API as the UK national sales and distribution manager to lead the UK sales and service team, with overall responsibility for sales into the UK and Ireland. Kitchen will assume overall responsibility for the Sheffield site, developing a best practice culture to provide the platform for continued growth. Previously he has worked in various sales and operational roles across the printing, graphic arts and machinery industries.

Kitchen will report directly to Mark Gilbert, who held the role previously, who has been promoted to head of sales, Northern & Central Europe. Gilbert led the team at API when it opened the Sheffield site, which has enabled the company to enhance its customer service in the UK market by working alongside its Foil manufacturing and distribution site in Livingston.

“Everyone in the team at Sheffield works with the customer as their focus in all that they do,” he says. “Since we opened we have ensured we continually strive to offer the best service in the industry through the range of products, support and practical technical expertise offered to our customers.”

The Sheffield sales and distribution centre houses over five million square metres of foil covering the full API product range and uses the latest machinery for spooling, cutting and slitting to minimise lead-times and maximise service for all its UK customers.

API’s foils, films and laminates are widely used to enhance the visual appeal of products and packaging and help customers communicate brand values and authenticity across a wide variety of applications.

“With brand owners looking to enhance their product and add real value to their packaging, our ability to provide a complete range of foils and deliver them quickly and effectively to our customers has led to high growth in their use, thanks to the impact and difference they deliver to packaging,” continued Gilbert.

“In our new roles Mike and I are looking forward to further building on the value we can deliver to our customers across the UK and the rest of Europe.”