Hunter Apparel Solutions Limited (Hunter) celebrated its 85th anniversary on the 25th of June 2021 with an event at Soda & Starch in the Craft Village, Derry~Londonderry.
Hunter was established in Belfast on the 25th June 1936 as Hunter Brothers Limited, by Reggie and Frank Hunter. After World War II the company was moved to Carlisle Road, Derry~Londonderry before moving to their current location in Springtown Industrial Estate in 1989. The company transitioned through several names reflecting the evolution of the business before becoming Hunter Apparel Solutions Limited.
The current CEO Simon Hunter Esq, M.B.E. is the 3rd generation of the family to run the company and works alongside other family members including Jeff Hunter, Chief Contracts Director, and Roisin Hunter, Chief Financial Officer.
Over the companies 85 years in trading, Hunter has employed over 1000 people as well as providing tens of thousands of jobs through their sub-contracting activities having been sub-contracting globally since 1960.
Hunter has worked with many globally prestigious organisations and brands such as London Fire Brigade, Virgin, Telefonica. In 2020, Hunter had the privilege to support the UK government as a key provider of Covid related PPE. This allowed Hunter to deliver over 55 million units of fully certified and compliant PPE to the UK’s frontlines whilst also providing support throughout the UK and Ireland to other key working organisations.
Meanwhile throughout 2020 Hunter continued to invest internally with c.£1million from the company’s reserves being invested to improve the R&D capabilities, warehousing and improve their “Lean & Agile” operational efficiency model. This included the implementation of advanced robotics, cutting technology, and a major IT and software investment.
This also seen the company increase its staffing capacity by 38% in 2020 before continuing to recruit more new talent in 2021 to help the company on its ambitious scaling plan for 2021 – 2025.
Simon Hunter Esq, M.B.E. CEO Said,
“It has been a particular highlight of my career to lead the company through the challenges of 2020 with the pandemic as its backdrop. Hunter, during the period of the pandemic supplied over 55 million pieces of PPE to frontline workers and our staff has remained highly engaged with the fulfilling of our purpose at this time of great societal need. It is fantastic that the company has survived through 85 years making it one of the longest established companies in the city and in our industry.”
In 2019 Simon Hunter was awarded an M.B.E. by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II for his services to business and the economy and in 2021 his father Graham Hunter was awarded an O.B.E. for his work over 5 decades at Hunter and for his charitable works throughout the local community.
Esdale & Graham Hunter