Ashwood
Ashwood is a family business founded by the Lourie family in Russia in 1860. We are a leading supplier of packaging for the ice cream industry.
Our products
We supply all forms of ice cream packaging, such as ice cream cups and tubs, sundae dishes, banana boats, highball/ screwball cups, napoli containers and tamper evident packaging. In addition to our plastic packaging, we also stock a wide selection of paper and wooden sticks suitable for ice creams, lollipops, candy floss and toffee apples.
From compostable ice cream spoons and clear cups to biodegradable wooden cutlery, ice cream tubs, crepe holders and palm plates, we have a wide variety of environmentally friendly products available, and we are also continually expanding our selection to include more eco-friendly items.
Our selection of hardwood dowels is one of the most extensive in the UK, with dowels available to order from stock in a range of different diameters and lengths, with the choice of multi-grooved and smooth being available.
Our history
My great-grandfather worked in wood, making the wooden pins that were used to hold clogs (wooden shoes) together. The original factory is still in existence in Pinsk, Western Russia, and information can be found on their web site. It now produces furniture. We are honoured that the owners still remember us; To see the original factory’s site in Pinsk, click here.
Toward the end of the 19th Century my grandfather left Russia, moving to London, England, diversifying his business into the manufacture of the wooden tea chests, which the British used to ship tea from their Imperial Colonies back the UK. He used to claim to have “invented plywood”, of which the chests were made, but that is not proven, and may be a myth. Wood has always been our inspiration and the background to our business, so after the 2nd world war, with the decline of the British colonies, my father moved into the business of wooden ice cream sticks, spoons and the many other products produced from wood mills, such as spatulae, skewers, chip forks, dowels to name but a few.
In the 1960’s the rise of the “take away” trade and convenience foods, provided a natural link between our products and the newly invented packaging idea called “Plastic”. We were one of the first companies to appreciate this development, and introduced plastic packaging to the UK for general food use, sandwiches and specialist ice cream packaging. Of course, nowadays, the environmental implications of plastics are understood, and we now provide additional ranges of products which provide an environmentally friendly alternative.
Our team
At Ashwood, we operate on two different sites.
Firstly our London based office: here is our team in London with their job roles.
Martin Chittock - Sales Director.
Jacky Prevost – Sales Manager
Ellis Chittock – Sales Assistant
Sian Copus - Sales Assistant
Jennifer Copus - Accounts
And at our Derby Site: this consists of our warehouse staff
Here is the Derby team with their job roles:
Andy Winfield – Warehouse Assistant Manager
Callum Davis – Warehouse Operations
Nigel Barber - Part-time Warehouse Assistant
At Ashwood, we all work together in making sure our customers receive excellent customer service in everyway possible.
Ashwood is now run by the third generation, based in the United Kingdom, and continues to provide a personal service, and wide range of packaging and wooden products, which can be found on our website www.ashwood.biz.