A FAMILY textile firm founded 150 years ago is celebrating record trading.
J&D Wilkie Group, which is based in Kirriemuir, Angus, said it has created a global footprint that includes manufacturing facilities in Scotland, China and India with trading offices in Japan and the US by placing itself at the forefront of innovation in the technical textile sector.
Accounts for parent company J&D Wilkie (Holding Company) Ltd, which includes a range of other research and development, engineering and textile businesses, show a second successive record year of trading with over 30 per cent turnover growth to £33.3 million for year June 2018.
Pre-tax profits increased from £1.9m to £2.4m.
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Joint managing directors Jean-Christophe Granier and Hamish Rowan said in a statement: “The performance of the Wilkie Group illustrates our team’s hard work and laser focus on releasing the undeniable potential of our Advanced Textile Technology in our global market.”
In the previous year, 100% of J&D Wilkie (Holding Company) Ltd was acquired by Wilkie Technical Textiles (Holding Company) Ltd as part of a long-term family succession plan with a new executive team comprising Hamish Rowan, Jean-Christophe Granier and Roger McGill, financial director, in place to take the business forward.
Wilkie Technical Textiles (Holding Company) Ltd is majority owned by the sixth generation of the Wilkie family.
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During the latest record year of trading, the Wilkie Group celebrated its 150the anniversary year, wicih the firm said “marked a tremendous achievement for the business, its employees past and present, customers, suppliers and all other stakeholders”.
It said significant investment in capital equipment was made during the year and this forms a core part of the focus on Advanced Textile Technology.
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