WEPA Professional Accelerates UK Market Growth Through Acquisition of Star Tissue UK
WEPA Professional, a leading European hygiene specialist, has announced the successful
acquisition of Star Tissue UK, a prominent British hygiene paper provider based in Blackburn,
Lancashire. The newly acquired entity will operate under the name ‘WEPA Professional UK’,
signaling WEPA’s strategic commitment to further growth in the UK’s professional hygiene
market.
Andreas Krengel, CEO Business Unit Professional of the WEPA Group, expressed enthusiasm
about the acquisition, stating, ‘WEPA stands for the production of high-quality tissue paper, and
the UK market is strategically important for us. We are delighted to continue the impressive
growth of Star Tissue with Managing Director Khalid Saifullah and his team as WEPA
Professional UK.’
Under the leadership of Khalid Saifullah, who will remain as Managing Director, WEPA
Professional UK aims to drive the integration process and foster continued growth. Khalid
Saifullah stated, ‘In WEPA Professional, we have found a partner that shares our values and
stands for high-quality products and first-class customer service.’
Star Tissue has a significant market position with three state-of-the-art fully automated
converting lines, a warehouse and modern office space. Thanks to the acquisition, customers
will benefit from an expansion of the product portfolio and an international production network of
the WEPA Group in the UK and at 12 other locations in Europe. Customers and partners can
expect business as usual, with the same dedication to quality, service, and sustainability.
In conclusion, both WEPA Professional and Star Tissue UK are committed to a seamless
transition, maintaining operations, and retaining the current workforce. The acquisition sets the
stage for a successful collaboration, combining the strengths of both companies for the benefit
of customers, employees, and the overall industry.
About Star Tissue:
Founded in 2003 as a family business, Star Tissue has grown to become one of the UK’s leading
independent manufacturers of hygiene paper products. The Blackburn site, with 130 employees,
produces a wide range of high-quality tissue products, including the Sirius, Bliss, Kleenall, and
Softelle brands, known for their recognition in the UK market. The Blackburn plant has a
converting capacity of 27,000 tons per annum. Star Tissue featured in the London Stock
Exchanges list of 1000 most dynamic and fast growing companies in 2016, and Most Inspiring
Companies in Europe in 2017. In 2022, it won the HIVE Manufacturing Excellence Award.
About WEPA
WEPA Professional is a leading hygiene specialist in Europe, offering sustainable and innovative
washroom hygiene solutions. With brands like BlackSatino and Satino by WEPA, the company
caters to the needs of companies and institutions in public spaces. The range includes
everything that makes a hygiene experience safe and convenient: hygiene paper, intelligent
dispenser systems, air fresheners and hand sanitiser solutions. WEPA Professional is part of
the WEPA Group, a family business headquartered in Germany, with 13 European production
sites. The UK presence includes a site in Bridgend, Wales, for the Consumer Business Unit.