For more than 23 years, Expanded Polystyrene Supplies provided the protective packaging for the seasonal hampers of the world’s most iconic department store, Harrods. Polystyrene was chosen because each hamper contained numerous fragile glass items, making them heavy and difficult to secure. Unlike traditional packaging, polystyrene offered both strength and lightness, safeguarding every product while reducing overall weight and ensuring the contents remained neatly presented.
Each hamper was fitted with multiple custom‑made polystyrene trays, precision‑cut to match the shape of individual items. This design kept everything firmly in place and encased in a protective shell. As demand for the hampers grew, production scaled to over 19,000 units annually, equivalent to 900 of our 8ft × 4ft × 2ft blocks of polystyrene.
Design and Production
Every year began with a meticulous design phase. Items were arranged in mock‑up trays, with careful consideration given to weight, height, colour, and label design, while maintaining adequate spacing. Once approved, sample hampers were produced, each tray placed inside its outer packaging, whether cardboard, wicker, leather, or wood.
The design process typically took 2–3 weeks. Once samples were signed off, full production commenced, ensuring thousands of hampers were delivered with precision, protection, and presentation at the highest standard.
