Northwood expands footprint with acquisition of Kimberly-Clark’s Coleshill and Flint sites

UK – Northwood, a prominent UK-based tissue and hygiene products manufacturer, has finalized its acquisition of multiple Kimberly-Clark sites in North Wales.

This move paves the way for the reopening of facilities shuttered last year amid regulatory pressures. 

The deal encompasses a sprawling 98-acre complex in Flint, including a 30,000-tonne tissue paper mill, converting plants for rolled and folded products, a national distribution centre, and advanced wet wipes production lines. 

Previously operated under Kimberly-Clark Professional and Personal Care divisions, these sites will now function as Northwood Tissue (Flint) Ltd., integrating seamlessly into Northwood’s Away-from-Home (AfH) and Consumer divisions to bolster production capacity and market reach.

The closures stemmed from the UK government’s ban on plastic-containing wet wipes, set to take full effect mid-2026, which Kimberly-Clark cited as rendering its Flint operations unviable without costly reconfiguration. 

In August 2025, the shutdown eliminated around 200 direct jobs and 150 supply chain roles, dealing a blow to the local North Wales economy. 

Northwood’s timely intervention, announced in early February 2026, reverses this trajectory. 

The acquisition expands Northwood’s vertical integration, from parent reel supply to finished goods like its Rhino Kitchen Towel, Hush, and Whisper brands, while enabling eco-compliant wet wipes production using state-of-the-art converting tech. 

Paul Fecher, Northwood’s founder and chairman, stated the move as a “major step” for growth in traditional and emerging sectors, emphasizing full UK ownership and management. 

With systems alignment underway, a phased restart is imminent, promising swift revival under Northwood’s operational expertise.

Northwood plans an aggressive recruitment drive to fill roles across manufacturing, logistics, and support functions, injecting vitality into Flint’s job market. 

The site’s strategic location and scale complement Northwood’s existing network, potentially creating hundreds of positions and stabilizing regional supply chains strained by the closures. 

This resurgence underscores corporate adaptability in sustainability-driven markets, where regulatory shifts like the wipes ban, aimed at curbing plastic pollution, force pivots toward greener alternatives.

Building on late 2024 announcements of Kimberly-Clark’s Flint exit, Northwood’s deal echoes broader industry consolidation. 

In December 2025, initial reports confirmed the tissue mill and Coleshill converting assets’ transfer, signalling Northwood’s expansion ambitions. 

Paralleling this, UK tissue giants have ramped up sustainable investments; for instance, similar regulatory pressures prompted other firms to retrofit for biodegradable wipes ahead of the 2027 sales ban. 

Globally, Kimberly-Clark has streamlined operations, closing non-core sites while focusing on high-growth hygiene segments, as seen in its 2025 U.S. restructuring.

Northwood’s play positions it competitively against imports, enhancing domestic resilience in personal care and AfH markets.

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