Workwear giants announce £12m collaboration

The Preston-based company already works with Carrington purchasing technical products for the flame retardant workwear sector and lightweight fabrics for the healthcare industry. The new contract, however, will move the supply of polyester cotton products – a staple textile of the workwear industry – back to the UK for the first time in 50 years.

The arrangement will see Adlington-based Carrington supply 2 million metres of fabric in 2017, with scope to rise to 4 million during 2018, in a contract potentially worth £12m over the first two years.

Alsico’s decision to move textile sourcing to its Lancashire neighbour was based on several factors. This included Carrington’s ability to supply products ideally suited to the industrial laundry (workwear rental) sector – Alsico’s largest market.    

“This is really great news for manufacturing in Lancashire – with two companies coming together to create high quality products and jobs in the UK,” David Toon, chief executive of Alsico, said.

Neil Davey, sales director at Carrington, added: “Lancashire has such a strong heritage in the textile industry, it’s great to see the region again building such a strong reputation in the workwear sector.