Hi All,
Welcome to the first edition of the 2026 Quarterly Newsletter!
Its been a special quarter this year, as we introduce many new staff members, share plans for the next 3 years and much more!
Hub Packaging Announces Major Expansion Plans for 2030
Hub Packaging has announced ambitious growth plans as Hub positions to become the leading packaging provider of choice across the Island of Ireland and beyond.
Hub Packaging has grown from a £3m operation to a £20m industry player under CEO Andrew Ward.
Now employing 45 full‑time staff across three generations, the company is enhancing its commercial focus as it scales for long‑term sustainable growth.
David Quigley Joins Hub Packaging
David Quigley has been appointed Chief Revenue Officer for Hub Packaging
Bringing more than 20 years’ commercial leadership experience from senior roles at Coca‑Cola Hellenic, Quigley will lead Hub Packaging’s growth strategy, with a goal of doubling Irish turnover to £40m by 2030.
Who is David?
David Quigley is a senior FMCG leader with a strong reputation of driving commercial growth, operational transformation, and building high performing teams across Ireland. He has a strong track record of delivering commercially focused strategies, strengthening customer partnerships, and leading large teams.
Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for driving innovation through customer partnerships and delivering sustainable results within complex, fast moving environments.
Belfast Telegraph Business Awards
The 2026 Belfast Telegraph Business Awards was a fantastic evening celebrating innovation, growth, and achievement across the local business community.
With a wide range of award categories and an impressive lineup of finalists, sponsors, and industry leaders, the event truly reflected the strength, diversity, and ambition driving businesses across the region.
Congratulations to all the companies recognised on the night, with special mention to Heron Manufacture Ltd, winners of the Excellence in Manufacturing award – an award we were proud to sponsor.
You can read the full event overview at the link below:
2026 Charities
In 2026, we’re going bigger with our charity efforts
This year, we’re proud to be partnering with Prostate Cancer UK and the Irish Cancer Society to raise vital funds for those affected across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Last year, our colleague and friend Shaun Garey sadly lost his father, David. In light of this, we felt it was incredibly important to raise funds and awareness for this important cause.
Prostate cancer impacts families, friends, colleagues, and entire communities. It’s something that touches more lives than many realise.
All funds raised through the challenge will be matched by the company, doubling the impact of every step taken.
We’re looking forward to working together, getting involved, and making a real impact again this year.
March The Month Steps Challenge
🚶♂️ March: The Month for Prostate Cancer UK 🚶♂️
Company Final Steps Total:
7.1 Million Steps
Top 3 Steppers:
🥇 Daniel Murdock – 504k steps
🥈 Ethan Hanna – 453k steps
🥉 Shaylene Brown – 443k steps
What a fantastic way to kick off spring! The Hub team came together to take on a steps challenge in support of Prostate Cancer UK.
The Challenge:
Each team member contributed £10 and set a personal step target for the month – and the results speak for themselves. We’ve captured some of the walking spots along the way, some local, some a little further afield.
Proud of the effort, energy, and impact made by everyone involved 👏
Staff Introduction
Kathy McGhee
Kathy McGhee joins Hub Packaging as an Executive Assistant, bringing over 25 years of trusted partnership and high-level administrative support to senior executives.
Previously Kathy spent over two decades at a multi-trade construction company in Canada, where she was known for quick thinking and problem solving.
Inspired by Hub Packaging’s mission and their ambitious growth plan Kathy is enthusiastic about becoming a strategic business partner.
Outside of work, you may pass Kathy and her children on the road with multiple drop off, pick ups between barns, football pitches, and dance studio.
Employee Anniversary
David Gilmore
Congratulations to our Marketing Manager David who just celebrated his five year anniversary at the beginning of April.
David’s creativity and vision have made a remarkable difference to how our brand is seen across the market. David consistently brings fresh ideas to the business and his dedication is an inspiration to us all.
As we continue to grow we look forward to achieving greater successes with David in the years to come.
Julian, Russell and Andrew
Employee Anniversary
Shaylene Brown
Congratulations to our sales colleague Shaylene Brown who has celebrated her five year anniversary in January this year.
Emotional intelligence is more than just a skill – it’s the bridge between us and our customers. It’s this skill that enhances Shaylene’s relationship with her customers, she’s just great at building empathy.
Shaylene is competitive and focused, and this combined with her team working skills and drive make her an exceptional part of our sales team.
Shaylene we appreciate all you do and look forward to achieving more together in the years ahead.
Julian, Russell and Andrew
New Van Livery
🚐 New addition to the Hub Packaging fleet!
We’re delighted with the finish on our newest fleet van, thanks to the great work by Blackwater Graphics in Newtownards.
The entire process was straightforward and hassle-free from start to finish.
If you spot us out on the road, be sure to give us a beep 👋
2026 Product Catalogue
Our brand‑new 2026 Product Catalogue has officially landed.
Packed with our latest products, innovations, and solutions, it’s perfect for anyone who wants a closer look at what we offer.
Simply request a FREE printed copy, and we’ll deliver it straight to your door.
More of a digital reader?
Royal Mail Now Charging for Labels
Get Your Free Sample
Important Update for Businesses Using Royal Mail
As of 19 January 2026, Royal Mail has made a key change for business customers: thermal label rolls are no longer provided for free.
Get your Free Sample of Labels To make the transition easier, we supply direct thermal labels compatible with Royal Mail and popular thermal printers.
International Women's Day
We’re proud to celebrate International Women’s Day at Hub Packaging.
The packaging industry continues to grow thanks to the talent, dedication and leadership of incredible women across all areas.
We want to say a big thank you for your commitment, hard work and the positive impact you bring to Hub Packaging.
Team Building Breakfast Morning
We had a brilliant offsite breakfast morning with the team.
A chance to step away, catch up, and take a fresh look at the year ahead. We talked through our plans, priorities, and the steps we’re putting in place to hit our targets for 2026.
What stood out was the strong sense of collaboration and the collective commitment to moving forward together. Big thanks to everyone who joined in and contributed.
Machinery Installations
Our Technical Sales Team has been working closely with customers over recent months to deliver a range of new machine installations across multiple sites
These systems have been carefully specified and implemented to:
Improve efficiency
Streamline operations
Support long‑term growth
The machines shown here are just a snapshot of recent installations and are already helping customers increase production output, reduce material usage, and significantly lower labour costs.
By combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of each customer’s operation, our team ensures every solution delivers measurable performance improvements and a strong return on investment.
Another pallet wrapping machine successfully installed for one of our long‑standing customers.
By introducing this solution, they’re able to significantly increase throughput while also reducing both material usage and manual labour.
Automated pallet wrapping ensures consistent load stability, minimises film waste, and frees up staff to focus on higher‑value tasks — This delivers measurable efficiency savings both immediately and long term.
Hub Packaging Hats
At Hub Packaging, we love solving your packaging problems and spotting a good branding opportunity.
So, we thought, why not spread a little warmth with every new order? That’s right, every new order comes with a FREE Hub-branded woolly hat!
We’ve got plenty to go around, so if you’ve been feeling the chill, now is the perfect time! Grab your order, grab your hat, and stay warm while looking great doing it.
The Masters - Hub Packaging Edition
Masters in the Hub Packaging Office 👀⛳
We brought a bit of the Masters into the office last Thursday with our own Crazy Golf Tournament, and David Quigley set the bar high.
Plenty of people fancied their chances, but as always… only one winner.
Format was simple: 3 practice shots, then 4 that counted (no pressure 😅)
A few questionable shots, a couple of clutch moments, and some serious competition along the way.
It all came down to a two-player final. Riley Roy vs Andrew Ward. With Riley pulling out all the tricks to take the win and claim office bragging rights.
Turns out office golf can get just as intense as Augusta
🍫 Easter Came Early at Hub Packaging! 🍫
Every year, our senior management team surprises the entire Hub Packaging family with a huge delivery of Easter eggs.
It’s a small tradition that highlights the big reasons why Hub Packaging is such a great place to work – appreciation, teamwork, and genuine care for our people.
A massive thank‑you to the team who make this happen year after year. Your effort never goes unnoticed! 👏🐣
Employee Spotlight
Fraser Lyons
📦 What does Fraser like about his role at Hub?
Fraser enjoys the daily challenge that comes with business development. He works with businesses across Ireland to help solve packaging problems and find solutions that add real value. For him, one of the most rewarding parts of the role is taking an initial contact and turning a cold lead into a long-term customer by finding the right solution for their needs.
📦 An accomplishment during his time at Hub
One highlight for Fraser was making the first contact with what’s now one of Hub’s largest customers. Seeing that relationship grow from an initial conversation into a major, ongoing partnership has been very rewarding and shows what persistence, consistency, and understanding the client’s needs can lead to.
📦 How he stays motivated and maintains a work-life balance
Outside of work, Fraser focuses on spending quality time with his wife – they’re celebrating their first wedding anniversary this month. He’s also been trying to put a bit more time into fitness this year. Nothing major, just enough to feel more balanced and clear-headed. Keeping that balance between work and life helps him stay motivated and focused.
📦 Hobbies and interests
Fraser enjoys getting outdoors whenever he can. He’s lucky to live less than an hour from the North Coast, which he really enjoys. Camping is probably his favourite way to switch off, and he’s planning to do more of it this year. He’s always been fascinated by boats – he doesn’t have one yet, but it’s definitely on the wish list.
Russell Brennan Visits Rathfriland High School
On Friday 10th, our Commercial Director, Russell Brennan, was delighted to attend Rathfriland High School’s Interview Preparation Day, supporting 5th year students as they take an important next step towards their future careers.
As the second largest employer in the Rathfriland area, Hub Packaging is proud of its strong connection to the local community, and it was fantastic to be invited to take part in such a meaningful initiative. The day provided a valuable opportunity to engage directly with students, offering real‑world insights into interview techniques, workplace expectations, and career development.
By sharing practical advice and constructive feedback, we hope to have helped build confidence and better prepare students for entering the workforce.
You never know, some of these students could be part of the Hub Packaging team in the future, and we look forward to continuing our support for local education and emerging talent.
Free Health Checks for Hub Packaging Employee
Health and safety is a core priority at Hub Packaging, and as part of our ongoing commitment to employee wellbeing, staff were recently offered free on‑site health checks.
These checks included assessments for:
Diabetes risk
Cholesterol levels
Blood pressure
Cardiac risk assessment
The initiative gave employees the opportunity to gain a better understanding of their current health, identify potential risk factors early, and receive helpful guidance on maintaining long‑term wellbeing.
At Hub Packaging, we recognise that a healthy workforce is essential to a safe, productive, and positive working environment. We are delighted to support our team by providing access to health initiatives such as these and remain committed to investing in the wellbeing of our staff.