A CRICKLADE firm has won two coveted awards in a nationwide design competition with a presentation pack it created for Tesco's Flower Direct range.

The Great Western Packaging Company's hexagon-shaped pack took the bronze award in both the corrugated and protective packaging categories of the National Packaging Council's 2004 Design and Construction competition.

World Flowers, from Basingstoke, had selected the firm to create a new series of attractive boxes for the bouquets.

"With the launch of three new ranges for Tesco's Direct business, the pre-printed boxes previously used by World Flowers proved to be inflexible," said managing director Ian Cook.

"Our design meant we could simplify the manufacturing process by introducing a common size as well as add a premium appearance to the packaging by printing onto the boxes after production.

"This expertise has ensured a better packaging option, which not only offers good protection for the fragile contents and looks good, but has also brought some reduction in packaging costs."

The company, which employs around 70 staff, has a turnover in the region of £4 million and recently moved into a new purpose-built factory on the Chelworth Park estate at Cricklade.