The story so far
From humble beginnings to a leading supplier, our timeline highlights the key milestones, achievements and people thathave shaped Wray Bros over the past 40 year.
Founded as Willy Wiper
We began our journey with the support of the Prince’s Trust, developing our business plan and receiving initial funding that gave us the confidence to take the first steps. Our first premises was a small flatted factory unit, which we had to leave after six months because the rent was more than we could manage.
Official Launch
In October, Willy Wiper officially launched, starting out with cloth cleaning rags. By December, the product range had grown to include hand towels, reflecting the early ambition to meet customer needs. The business quickly gained national attention, being featured in Intro Business.
Royal Visit
We were honoured to welcome HRH The Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) to Wray Bros, an incredible moment that recognised the work and growth of the business. Since that first visit, we’ve had the privilege of meeting him six more times.
First Employee
Jayne joined Wray Bros as our very first employee and the only applicant at the time! Starting at just 18, she quickly became an integral part of the team. Over the years, she has grown with the company and is now our Purchasing Manager.
10-Year Anniversary
We celebrated 10 years in business, a milestone that reflected our growth and the lessons learned along the way. To enhance professionalism and consistency, we introduced product signage and labelling across our range.
Warehouse Purchased
We purchased a 16,000 sq ft Victorian warehouse and established a permanent base for the business. This new space gave us the room to expand operations and store products more efficiently.
Expansion
We expanded into the PPE and safety products market through the acquisition of JTD Safety Services. This strategic move allowed us to broaden our product range and meet the growing safety needs of our customers.
Joined Jangro
We became part of the Jangro network, a move that strengthened our business by improving pricing, marketing, and collective buying power. This allowed us to offer better value and a wider range of products.
Name Change
As the business continued to grow and diversify, we rebranded as Wray Bros Ltd. The new name reflected our evolution into a versatile supplier capable of meeting wider customer needs.
First Jangro Catalogue
Mark Wray spearheaded the production of the very first Jangro catalogue. This initiative helped establish a clear product offering and laid the groundwork for Jangro’s future growth and organisation.
Liverpool Contract
We won a Liverpool City Council tender against 15 competitors, successfully securing a long-term contract. This achievement reinforced our reputation for reliability and quality service.
Caryl Street
We purchased a 4,500 sq ft building on Caryl Street, providing extra space to support our growing operations and accommodate future expansion in the Liverpool area.
Purchased All Clean
We purchased All Clean and expanded into the protective clothing market. This move involved setting up a new supply chain and investing in manufacturing equipment for uniforms and PPE.
Alima Centre
We grew our property portfolio in the Baltic Triangle, which quickly became one of the most vibrant areas in Liverpool for creative and digital industries.
Wisdom Box
We launched The Wisdom Box, a 24/7 knowledge hub for cleaning teams. It provides product guides and training videos to help staff work safely and sustainably.
Theatre School
We welcomed The Liverpool Theatre School into The Alima Centre, providing a space where students can train to degree level in the heart of the creative community.
Move to Glacier
During the pandemic, we relocated distribution to Glacier along the docks, developing a state-of-the-art centre to meet the surge in online demand and improve efficiency.
Studio Complex
We built a first-of-its-kind studio complex within The Alima Centre to produce bespoke video training, helping our clients deliver consistent learning to their teams.
Hygiene Bombs
We introduced Hygiene Bombs, our sustainable cleaning solution designed to reduce carbon emissions and plastic waste in landfills. A true eco-friendly innovation.
I-Team HQ
We developed the new UK headquarters for I-Team at The Alima Centre. The facility provides a modern space for collaboration and innovation in cleaning technology.
New Website
We launched a brand-new Wray Bros website, marking a significant digital investment to improve the shopping experience and showcase our full product range.
Planet Mark
In February 2025, we achieved Planet Mark certification, a key milestone in our sustainability journey and a commitment to measuring and reducing our impact.
