• Swindon & Wiltshire Property
• Wednesday April 24 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Somerset soap firm cleans up with multi-million pound expansion

A family-owned soap firm is celebrating its 25th birthday by expanding.

West of England mayor Dan Norris officially opened The Somerset Toiletry Company’s new factory on Tuesday.

The new facility is over the road from the firm’s previous base in Hallatrow near Bath.

The multi-million-pound, family-run company – one of the world’s biggest bath and body product firms – moved soap production from Portugal to Hallatrow during the pandemic to decrease their carbon footprint.

The Mayor heard how the move means the £14 million firm can double and streamline production – as their factory and warehousing sites will be directly linked for the first time, while they now have a second soap machine meaning they can increase production by 100 per cent.

It means the firm will be making even more environmentally friendly bath and body products. All products are designed in Somerset, with soaps made exclusively in Hallatrow and sold all over the world to over 50 countries.

They’re one of only a few companies worldwide to use sustainable palm oil certified by The Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) – meaning 100 per cent of the palm oil used is traceable from locations where there is no threat to endangered species like orang-utans.

The metro mayor said: “It’s so great to see a Bath and NE Somerset-based firm cleaning up by expanding into a new manufacturing home here in Hallatrow.

“The soap and other body products they sell are top-quality, and they’re animal-friendly, and environmentally-friendly too. Here’s to the next 25 years.”

The firm is also running a ‘25 for 25’ campaign to celebrate their anniversary – 25 charitable initiatives through the year.

This includes donating toiletries to various community-based organisations and providing hot meals in the area, with the mayor meeting some of the charitable and community groups to have benefitted on the day.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, the firm will also be releasing limited-edition soaps, fundraising with sponsored sky-dives, and hosting events at their cafe.

The Somerset Toiletry Company has been creating luxury bath and body products since 1999 and was recently named 2024 Sustainable Business of the Year by The City of London at the Elite Business 100 Awards.

Its chair Sakina Buoy said: “Our 25th year in business is proving to be a very special one. With our ’25 for 25′ initiative we are engaging with extraordinary local and national charities.

“Alongside this, the expansion of our production capabilities offers an exciting new chapter in our manufacturing journey.”

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