A substantial rise in flatwork orders has led Initial Textile Services’s Maidstone branch to take over the next door premises.

Branch manager Roger Jones told LCN that his linen business had risen from 53,000 pieces a week in January 2001 to 74,000 pieces each week in January 2002 – a 23% increase.

After refurbishing, the extra space, will be devoted to the linen business in effect setting up a separate linen department.

Mr Jones explained that expansion of the linen operation had been going on for some time. Even before last year he had set up a dedicated linen route for collection and delivery vehicles. Last year’s growth in linen work meant increasing staff and vehicles and he took on two vehicles, three drivers and two extra dedicated linen checkers and packers.