The Sittingbourne-based paper specialist has also taken on former Stora Enso sales manager Peter Tait as a result of the deal, which encompasses the UK and Ireland.

Stora Enso sold its Kabel mill in Germany to the newly-formed Kabel Premium Pulp & Paper earlier this year. The deal was completed in September.

The mill makes lightweight and medium-weight coated papers and has an annual capacity of some 485,000 tonnes. It had sales of around €300m (£255m) under its former owner.   

“It’s an exciting change for us, as we haven’t been agents before. There’s scope to grow every part of the Kabel range, and that’s certainly what we’re looking to do,” said Colombier sales director Kevin Dyer.

“Peter’s appointment is perfect because he knows the mill, the products, and the people.”

Colombier is selling all of the Kabel grades, encompassing a range of papers for gravure, web offset, and sheetfed printing. Brands include ArtiPress, TerraPress, TerraPrint and NeoPress.

Dyer said he believed the addition of the agency put Colombier UK in a “fairly unique” position. “We’ve got agency sales, a conversion unit, and a sales arm in one. I don’t think anyone else has that.”

The business is part of the pan-European Colombier Group, which is headquartered in Finland. The UK operation employs around 25 staff.