Fishers Services, the
family-owned business laundry company, has clinched almost #5m of new orders to maintain the company's growth pattern.
The Cupar-based firm is the largest independent laundry business in the UK with a current financial year turnover of #18m.
Among the contracts Fishers have clinched are Stakis and Smithkline Beecham, and they have now moved into the North of England.
Fishers have laundries in Aberfeldy, Greenock, Perth and two in Cupar which between them handle 1.5 million articles a week brought to them in a fleet of 60 commercial vehicles.
The firm is enjoying growth in its two main areas of business, the hotel industry and industrial workwear.
''The hotel business is increasing at a tremendous rate,'' said managing director Donald Fisher, ''and the tourist season appears to be becoming longer.''
A firm indication of this is that in the past the company had to put its 500-plus workforce on short-time working in January and February when the hotel industry was quiet, but this year the laundries continued to work full-time throughout the period.
Fishers own 90% of the linen they clean, and operate a textile rental service for hotel groups.
Next year the business celebrates its 100th anniversary.
Fisher's great
grandfather started it when he was 56 years of age to meet the demand for cleaning the hunting outfits of grouse shooting parties who stayed in hunting lodges in the area.
''My great-grandfather was a licensed grocer but saw an opportunity and we began to expand outside our own area when my father gained contracts when the Aviemore centre was opened in the 60s.'' explained Fisher.
Since 1984 the business has expanded rapidly from a #4m annual turnover to #12m in 1995, and now #18m.
Industrial workwear accounts for 35% of Fishers Services' business as tighter legislation requires companies to meet strict hygiene standards.
''We do a lot of work for the electronic and pharmaceutical industries,'' explained Fisher.
Recently the company moved into supplying
ancillary goods such as towel dispensers and floor cleaning products.
A more radical development could come if Fishers, now the sixth largest business laundry company in the UK, decides to go for NHS contracts.
''We have looked at the hospital sector,'' said Fisher, but stressed that they would take a closer look before making a final decision.
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