Smurfit Westrock wins Howdens Supplier of the Year award

Leading sustainable packaging manufacturer Smurfit Westrock has been named Howdens Supplier of the Year 2026.

The award – presented at the Howdens Supplier Conference in Gleneagles, Scotland – recognises Smurfit Westrock’s outstanding performance, as well as its strong partnership and shared values with the UK’s number one trade kitchen supplier. 

Smurfit Westrock has worked closely with Howdens for over 20 years, supporting the brand’s UK based manufacturing operations with innovative, reliable and scalable packaging solutions.

Today, it supplies packaging for close to 800 products, supporting Howdens’ extensive range of kitchens, cabinets, sinks, worktops and associated products. In recent years, the partnership delivered packaging for more than 400 new products.

“Smurfit Westrock is a long standing partner that embodies the Howdens culture of trust. Together, we have launched products with speed and scale, backed by significant investment in product efficiency,” said James Mackenzie, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer at Howdens. “Our collaboration is strengthened by dedicated account management, deep relationships across all levels of both businesses, in person technical support, and commitment to cutting edge trade packaging solutions.”

“We are delighted to be recognised as Howdens Supplier of the Year. This award reflects two decades of collaboration built on trust, shared ambition and a relentless focus on delivering for the end customer,” added Eddie Fellows, CEO UK & Ireland at Smurfit Westrock. “An additional 400 solutions in recent years is a testament to the strength of our teams on both sides and our ability to respond with speed, scale and innovation. We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved together — and even more excited about what's still to come.”

As Howdens continues to invest in UK manufacturing and expand its product range, Smurfit Westrock remains committed to supporting the business with efficient, sustainable and future ready packaging solutions that help products move safely and effectively through the supply chain.