International markets help Principle Healthcare growth

VITAMIN supplier Principle Healthcare saw turnover grow 14% in the year which saw the company win a Queen’s Award for International Trade.

Pre-tax profits held steady at £950,839 as turnover increased from £14.3m to £16.2m at the Skipton-based business.

Principle Healthcare supplies major retailers with vitamins, minerals and supplements under its own labels and for customer brands.

Its latest directors’ report describes the year to the end of March as “a positive trading year for the business, with sales growth experienced in some marketsl, with five international markets now trading.

“The group will continue to focus on new product developments, and new market requirements, which will be at the forefront of our proposals for new business.”

The report describes the market for vitamins, minerals and supplements in the UK as “static” with the major grocery chains growing their ranges to try and attract sales from pharmacy and health food stores.

The year saw the company, which has a manufacturing and packaging facility in Slovakia, win the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade and open a new plant in Skipton.

During the year, the company made donations totalling £25,000 into its charitable arm, the Principle Trust.