Maped Helix is the latest company to join The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA), in readiness for the debut of the Maped Picnik concept – a range of lunch boxes, water bottles and lunch bags.

The products include numerous new design features including easy opening, closing, and cleaning, insulation and suitability for dishwasher, microwave and freezer.

Best known in the UK for its Helix and Oxford stationery product brands, Helix Trading, which can trace its roots back to 1877, is now part of the French Maped Group. It launched Maped Picnik earlier this year as part of a programme of innovation, building on its pedigree in school and office products and its reputation for technicality.

With UK headquarters in Kingswinford in the West Midlands, Helix Trading exports to over 65 countries with offices in the US and Hong Kong. 

Commenting on the decision to join BHETA and exhibit at Exclusively, managing director, Gray Richmond said: “Maped Picnik and other planned innovations targeting children and adults in school, home and office environments takes the company into additional areas of retail distribution,such as housewares. 

"Exclusively provides the perfect platform to showcase how we have used our knowledge of school and office to expand into this marketplace, while membership of BHETA enables us to network effectively with retailers and fellow suppliers, which will be really interesting and valuable."  

Will Jones, BHETA’s chief operating officer commented: “It’s great to see such an iconic brand joining BHETA and coming to Exclusively to further its expansion plans.  I’m looking forward to welcoming the Maped Helix team to future BHETA events and hearing more about the company’s innovation in the housewares sector.”