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Westfield – where the biggest buys the best

When Europe’s largest shopping mall in West London, the 43 acre Westfield Centre, was specifying washroom facilities for this very ‘up market’ Centre, the focus was on buying the best.

With the possibility of supplying the toilet tissue and paper hand towels to a potential 20m visitors a year, every manufacturer wanted a slice of the action.

Once the architects had specified the stylish stainless sunken dispensers, shopping mall specialist contract cleaner Clean Domain - in association with The Supplies House - checked suitability of all manufacturers’ paper products. Of the 12 organisations chosen only two brands met all the product requirements and Metsa Tissue’s Katrin and Lambi brands won the day.

Discussing the decision, Paul Lunn, General Manager Operations at Clean Domain said: “So many operators buy on price alone, but it is cost-in-use that is the deciding factor. A little of a luxury brand where you can feel the product quality, fulfils the same task as a large quantity of inferior product, but with literally a ‘feel good’ factor.”

Although the Centre is currently closed overnight there are cleaning staff working 24/7. During the day they are continuously maintaining the high standards specified by the Westfield management. During the night each facility receives a thorough deep clean and all vanity units are dried and polished, fittings are sanitised and particular attention is given to the baby changing rooms and their microwave ovens.

Since its opening, Westfield has been using Metsa Tissue’s Lambi 3-ply luxury toilet tissue and its 2-ply Katrin luxury white hand towels.

Brian Chapman, Managing Director of The Supplies House, which provides all cleaning, washroom and janitorial supplies, says: “Our washroom product selection was a detailed process. We had to recommend items that provide luxury and quality in line with this world class Centre but had to consider cost-in-use and the environment.”

Becoming winner on quality, softness and cost-in-use, Metsa Tissue’s environmental policy was checked out too. Brian says: “I knew that Metsa Tissue is the only paper manufacturer with the Nordic Swan environmental quality stamp but I was amazed to find out that the Company uses its production sludge to heat 5,000 homes in a town near to its production mill.”

The environmental issue was followed from cradle to grave and Clean Domain - through its sister CE Property Services Group company Clean Waste Solutions - has organised recycling of the hundreds of bags of used hand towels each day.

All staff receive product basic training from Metsa Tissue including how to correctly refill towel cabinets so they dispense one at a time and not a handful. Clean Domain organises continuous cleaning technique training and an induction course for new staff.

All the washrooms at Westfield, which were visited by our reporter at different times of the day, were scrupulously clean. They are the cream of washrooms and meet the standards expected in a centre where all the top international designer brands have their UK flagship stores.

Communication between site management, contractor, product supplier and manufacturer are close and in tune with every possible change or need. At peak periods all parties react to the pressure so that washrooms remain as pristine as the day the Centre opened. The 160+ staff members are aware of their responsibilities, are on radio control and on the scene when needed in minutes. This operation is like a military operation - everyone is fully trained, the products and equipment are on site ready for use and each member of the team has enthusiasm and job satisfaction. That has got to be the way ahead in our profession.

T: 0208 332 2842
E: sales.uk@metsatissue.com
W:www.katrin.com

2nd July 2009