New state-of-the-art production facility for fast growing chemical manufacturer

Yorkshire Business Masters award winner, the Friendly Chemical Co. (FCC), is opening a new 6,000 sq ft warehousing facility at its Soap Factory home.

It brings its total footprint of the fast-growing Keighley-based sustainable manufacturer, to 10,000 sq ft across three units, with the business scaling production to maintain soaring demand for its eco-friendly cleaning ranges.

The new site will act as a state-of-the-art bulk chemical blending facility and home for the company’s technical and production team, which has grown from five to 17 over the last six months. It will enable the team to blend up to 300,000 litres of product a month, doubling monthly production levels for its award-winning Miniml cleaning range.

The new facility will enable the sustainable manufacturer extend its closed loop system which supports its fully zero waste supply chain.

Empty packaging – anything from single bottles to 200L steel drums – are collected from customers, cleaned and refilled on the production line. It means no packaging is wasted at any stage of the production journey. Customers can also access refill stations up and down the country to top up their Miniml products, with FCC now supplying 2,000 zero waste and farm stores across the country.

Founded in 2017 by Emma Tapper and Scott Rudd, the young team have quickly risen from a two-person start up to a thriving business employing 17 staff. In 2021, revenues topped £710,000, with the business on track for £3m by FY22, with the duo also taking home the Yorkshire Business Masters award for fast growth.

FCC is also on track to become a certified B-Corp, having recently been recognised for its leading environmental impact in the UK’s Ethical Consumer Guide, given ‘Best Buy’ status.

Tapper, co-founder and director of the Friendly Chemical Co, said: “We’re coming to the close of an incredible year for the FCC team, and as we continue to grow, we needed the space to do so. As we looked to create new roles within the Technical and Production Teams, growing our footprint was key. We wanted to maintain our Keighley roots, to keep the business Yorkshire born and bred, and we’re delighted with how the site expansion has gone.

“It’ll enable us to quickly ramp up production and maintain the demand we’re currently experiencing for our ranges. Consumers are keen to make small switches to have a greener lifestyle, whether that’s in the products they use or the companies they support. Sustainability is at our core of FCC, and we want to share this with customers.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close