Navigator restructures tissue operations in the United Kingdom

The Navigator Company has announced a restructuring of its tissue operations in the United Kingdom, continuing the integration process of the Accrol Group, which it acquired in 2024 for approximately €152 million (around US$176 million).

The plan includes the closure of the toilet paper and paper towel factory in Blackburn, in northern England, and the transfer of activities to two facilities: a new plant in Leicester and an existing one in Leyland. The reorganization will reduce the company’s industrial and logistics sites in the country from six to two, with the aim of increasing production scale, optimizing costs, and strengthening supply chain efficiency.

According to Navigator, the capacity of the new Leicester facility is expected to increase by 30 % to 50 %, while the Leyland unit should grow by 15 % to 25 %. The process is expected to be completed between late 2026 and the second quarter of 2027.

The facial tissue factory in Blackburn will not be affected by the restructuring. The company stated that the changes are intended to “reinforce operational efficiency and the competitiveness of the tissue business in the United Kingdom,” aligning local practices with the group’s global model.

 

Navigator also highlighted that the chosen locations –Leicester and Leyland– were strategically selected to ensure efficient coverage of northern and southern England, bringing production closer to major consumption centers and reducing logistics costs.

Between January and September 2025, Navigator’s tissue sales grew by 14 % in volume and 17 % in value, driven by the integration of Accrol. However, the company’s net profit fell by 51 %, to €118 million, due to higher energy and raw material costs and lower pulp prices.

In the first nine months of 2025, Navigator’s tissue segment reached a total of 177,000 tons, representing an increase of 14 % in volume and 17 % in value, driven by the Accrol integration. International sales accounted for about 80 % of the total volume, up from 54 % in 2022, with the United Kingdom (35 %), Spain (30 %) and France (14 %) as the main markets. Finished products represented 98 % of sales, while jumbo rolls accounted for 2 %.