Though the company may be more familiar with plated steel, it will be silver all the way for UAP Ltd in 2021 as the hardware specialist celebrates its silver anniversary.
UAP first started trading as Universal Imports in July 1996 with a single product – a door knocker – and a makeshift bedroom office. By 2000, the company had moved to its HQ in North Manchester and changed its name to UAP. These days, it has grown to a £22 million business, selling more than 3,000 products across 25 countries with a portfolio of brands including Fullex, Locking Systems, Intelligent Hardware, TradeLocks and Firemongery.
David Jennings, CEO of UAP comments: “It seems like only yesterday that a good idea became a fledgling business, but so much has happened over the past 25 years and we have grown to become a substantial business, an innovator in our market and a respected supplier for both quality and service.
“Our anniversary provides an ideal milestone, not only to celebrate the company’s achievements but also to thank our customers, our supply chain partners and our team for supporting us and contributing to our success over the past 25 years. In many ways, it could not have come at a better time because, after the challenges of the pandemic, a reason to celebrate is just what we need right now and we have plans to keep the celebrations going all year!”
UAP’s plans for its 25th year in business will be unveiled as the company’s silver anniversary progresses, with a range of activities already in the pipeline.
“We are proud to be marking 25 years in business,” David adds, “and because we became a co-operative in 2019, now every member of our 80-strong team benefits from our continued success. We want to spend this year looking back but also, as we always have, focusing on the future and the innovation we can bring to the market over the next 25 years.”
