One of the main skills of running a successful business is the ability to adapt and diversify recognising that change may be coming and ensuring that you're ahead of the game.
Putting all your eggs in one basket has been the death knell for many companies, who haven’t had a strategy in place to deal with shifting trends. But those who do think ahead can gain rich rewards which is certainly the case for Peterlee-based Innerglass Ltd part of the IG Group. The company has been in operation for more than 40 years and now has the third generation of the Hoey family working in the business.
According to CEO, Stephen Hoey, the roots of this highly successful organisation which has just announced a record turnover in excess of £30m are in very humble beginnings.
It was Stephen’s parents who started the business, supplying the then-thriving workingmen’s clubs in the North East with all of their glassware.
Stephen recalls the early days of selling glasses out of the back of a van, with their product lines expanding as they were asked for a range of different items. “As people wanted different things we would source them and supply them,” said Stephen.
The team however were forward thinking enough to recognise that the glory days of the workingmen’s clubs were sadly drawing to an end and started to look at other potential customers for their products. That includes other leading leisure organisations, care homes, catering and hospitality and as the product ranges expanded so did Innerglass’s customers.
Fast forward a few decades and Innerglass is now part of the wider IG Group controlled by the Hoey family, which counts not only the North East leading operators but also the UK’s biggest leisure companies as their clients. A recent contract win with Greene King, the UK’s leading pub retailer and brewer which has 3000 outlets across the country, consolidated Innerglass’ place at the top of the tree.
Now with 165 employees and a team which includes a Management Team of seven, including Group National Sales Director, Lesley Tait, Daniel and Nathan Hoey, Innerglass continues to grow, thanks to a philosophy which ensures they can always meet their customers’ needs. From two bases in Sunderland and Peterlee, Innerglass offers a staggering 10,000 branded products along with the ability to provide bespoke items if required.
“We are delighted to have had another successful year which has seen the company go from strength to strength,” said Stephen Hoey.
“We continue to retain our long-held regional and national customers, some of whom have been with us for more than 20 years.
“Winning this latest contract is great news not just for the company but also for our staff and cements our position as the region’s leading organisation supplying the leisure and hospitality sector.”
