David Byk

David has been CEO of the Swan Mill Group since his father passed away in 2000. The main part of the business has traditionally been manufacturing paper napkins in Swanley, Kent for the likes of KFC, Pizza Hut and Costa under the brand name Swantex as well as importing disposable tableware products for customers such as Sainsbury and Tesco. The group also manufactures wrapping paper and tinsel in South Wales and supplies a huge range of own label Christmas crackers, gift bags, greetings cards and decorations to many customers around the world  and also owns the upmarket gift packaging company Penny Kennedy.

In 2015 Swan Mill bought Ling Design which was a natural extension to the portfolio as design, creativity and ink on paper are central to what they do. In 2019 they took over The Great British Card Company which is complementary to Ling and adds licensing and humour to the core offer. Plus, GBCC owns Waterwells, the market leading card brokerage business, which works with 25 of the UK’s best known publishers and is a complete card solution specialising in the independent sector.

David says ‘I have not been directly involved in greetings cards for as long as many but I am very excited to be asked to be part of the GCA council. I think it’s a fantastic industry with so much creativity, passion and challenge within it and if I can be part of protecting and shaping the future it will be an honour. ‘