Our Heritage

With 90 years in the business we have a long history of manufacturing the highest quality specialist packaging solutions. From our humble beginnings in the Ribble Valley to our current site located in Oldham, which we have called home for over 50 years. We have always been passionate about the development of our business and community.

Founded

Ribble Paper Co at the former William Calvert Cotton Mill (1800) in Walton-le-Dale

Acquisition

Ferry and Daisley Oldham based box manufacturer is bought by Ribble

First Corrugator

The first 2.5m corrugator in the UK was installed at Oldham site

Name Changed

Ferry and Daisley - becomes Ribble Packaging

Rationalisation

Ribble paper mill is closed and becomes a one site corrugator and box maker

Fanfold Introduced

The continuous fanfold corrugated card first introduced to the UK

Diversification

Fanfold is sold extensively into the aluminium extrusion industry for construction

Industry Contraction

The UK aluminium extrusion industry contracts following pressure from cheap imports

Management Buyout

Stephen Rector, Derek Haynes and Mike O’Hara effect a management buyout of Ribble

Major Investment

Major investment in conventional box making equipment to address decline of Fanfold sales

2nd Management Buyout

Stephen Rector effects second buyout and takes majority ownership

Right Size

Ribble introduces the Right Size packaging solution to the UK, mainly focused on the furniture industry

£3.5M Investment

Ribble invests £3.5m in new corrugating equipment and fully automated Fanfold manufacturing and stacking system

£3.5m Investment

New fanfold stacker and warehouse expansion

£2M Investment

Major corrugator and track upgrades

VPK Equity Purchase

VPK agree 30% equity stake in Ribble

£1.25m Investment

Investment in Fanfold track upgrades

VPK Increase Equity

VPK purchase another 20% equity stake, raising their share to 50%

Corrugator Upgrades

£1.5m additional investment in our factory including a new boiler, steam system and starch kitchen

Meet the Team

Senior Leadership

Our Team

Internal News

Ribble’s 2025 Fundraising Efforts

Here at Ribble, we’re incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made over the years through our fundraising efforts and 2025 has been no exception. Thanks to the passion, […]

Read more

Fundraising & Donations in 2021 (So Far)

A Good Start to Ribble’s Fundraising in 2021 Over the course of 2020, we donated over £25,000 to a variety of charities close to our community and employees’ […]

Read more

Christmas Donations & Fundraising

At Ribble, we have always prided ourselves on the work we do with charities and organisations which help our local community. This year has been especially challenging for […]

Read more

Team Challenge Raises Over £2000 for Alzheimer’s

During the last two weeks of November, our team here at Ribble embarked on a huge challenge, all with the aim of raising as much money and awareness […]

Read more

Ribble’s £3.5 million investment into their future

Recently we have successfully completed a £3.5 million investment project on time, despite the challenges presented by Covid-19. The project, which included a warehouse extension and the installation […]

Read more

Mahdlo Youth Zone Support

We were delighted to support Mahdlo Youth zone during lockdown by donating £2,000. Mahdlo is a state-of-the-art Youth Zone in the heart of Oldham for 8-19 year olds, […]

Read more

Donations to Christies & Dr Kershaw’s

Dr Kershaw’s Hospice has been part of Oldham’s community for over 30 years and provides specialist palliative care for adults with non-curable, life-limiting illnesses in a peaceful and […]

Read more

Designed by Definition Consulting.