Down based Patterson Potato Boxes Ltd has been manufacturing wooden potato boxes since the business was established in 2010 and it has gone from strength to strength ever since.
Aaron Patterson is the managing director of the company and he spoke to us about how the business originated and how the company has grown in the past six years.
“My uncle grows potatoes and he was short of boxes and I made a few up for him and that is basically where it all started from,” stated Aaron.
“Through word of mouth and producing a quality product saw more business come in and we would have customers all across Ireland now. From June to Christmas would be our busiest period.”
Aaron feels that manufacturing a durable box is one of the keys to the success of the business.
“We take great pride in the boxes that we make and it is essential to produce a product that will last. We make our boxes out of quality timber either home grown or imported, to suit all of our customer’s needs.
Situated in Crossgar, Downpatrick, the company yard has a central location and easy access to the motorways and docks all over Ireland and mainland UK for transport.
With ample storage facilities, Patterson Potato Boxes Ltd can stock up to 5000 boxes on site which means that they can keep ahead of demand.
“Being able to stock so many boxes gives us the benefit of pre-making them in earlier times of the year and be delivered to the customer at harvest as they require them.”
With the capacity to make 500 box per week, the company can meet the customers’ needs and no one is left waiting too long for their order to be delivered.”
Aaron added that the demand for their boxes has grown year on year as the company continues to thrive.
“I started off as a one man operation, but there are seven of us working here now. The company went ltd in 2011 as the demand for potato boxes in the north of Ireland became greater and greater. “Then in 2012 we started to export to the republic of Ireland and the need for quality boxes with a long life span became even greater, and since then the company has seen steady growth year after year.
Patterson Potato Boxes Ltd manufacture their products to the customers’ specifications, while their standard potato boxes are solid or spaced from 500kg up to 1.25ton. Veg boxes are the same and can be made to any size to match customer’s requirements solid and spaced from 500kgs to 1.25tons
Log boxes are also made for the firewood market with extra-large spacing for air drying of timber, these boxes can be made to hold up to 2m3 of timber.
Aaron and his team off a repair service on boxes as the aim is to ensure customer satisfaction at all times.
“At Patterson we offer all size of timber for repair on boxes and a repair services. All our boxes can be stencilled to the customer needs and numbering if required.”
Now one of Ireland’s largest potato box manufactures, also making bespoke pallets and crates for various companies in the north and south of Ireland. The company prides its self on quality and customer service, trying to fulfil customers needs to the best they can.
All boxes are delivered to the customer when required as Aaron uses a local haulier to complete this task.
The timber used by the company is generally sourced in Ireland with spruce and larch being used, while boxes can be treated or untreated depending on the customers’ needs.
Aaron added that as the customer base has grown so too has the business and he stated that they were looking to expand in the near future.
“We have been growing year on year and that is something that I want to try to continue doing. A new automated machine has been put in and that will help double production. We’ve sent a few loads over to the mainland U.K and this is an area that we would like to build on in the future.
“I’d be happy with the direction that the business is going and as long as our customers are pleased with the service that we provide then that is the main thing.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their continued support over the years, while any new customers can get in touch with us by the details below and we will be happy to help with any enquiries that they may have.”
Aaron and his wife Kristy have worked hard to establish the business and there is no doubt that they have made a huge success of the company in a short space of time.”
Contact Details:
Patterson Potato Boxes Ltd
70 Raffery Road
Raffery
Crossgar
Downpatrick, Co. Down
BT30 9NW
Tel 🙁 +44) (0)2897542345
Fax 🙁 +44) (0)2897541094
Mob 🙁 +44) (0)7814929479
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 5 No 1, January/February 2017
