Wax Lyrical manufacturer invests £1m

COLONY Gift Corporation, which makes home fragrance products under the Wax Lyrical brand, is to invest around £1m in upgrading its Ulverston factory.

The investment, to be made over the next 12 months, will bring in a range of new machinery and reshape the production line to make it more efficient.

It will see the firm increase production on the site and allow it to meet its target of making more than 85% of its products within the UK by the end of the year.

The company employs around 170 staff, split between its 80,000 sq ft manufacturing plant in Ulverston and a 60,000 sq ft distribution site in Barrow. Growing sales means staff numbers will hit 185 by mid-April.

Mike Armstead, managing director, said: “The last 12 months have been a real turning point for Wax Lyrical, and this upgrade will help us to grow even stronger and add value as a local business.

“Manufacturing in the UK makes sense – not only in terms flexibility of supply to our customers, our own balance sheet, but also in terms of the benefits it can bring to the regional economy. 

“Our buyers are getting more and more aware of the growing number of consumers looking to ‘buy local’, and it’s a trend that I expect will continue for many years to come.”