Export markets fuel growth for Natures Aid

Natures Aid, the Kirkham-based manufacturer of health and nutritional supplements, is on target to achieve turnover growth of 12 per cent in the next year, buoyed by expanding export markets.

The company, which sells to wholesalers and distributors in more than 30 countries, expects to hit sales of £7.4m in 2016 thanks to an increasingly nutrition-savvy public in the UK and growing demand from health conscious nations abroad, particularly in Northern Europe and the Middle East.

It is seeing high demand for its vitamin liquids for children and also traditional herbal remedies, such as St John’s wort. These products have seen significant growth with online retailers such as Amazon UK and this ultimately contributes to international sales growth.

Lynn Lord, managing director at Natures Aid, said: “People are more educated about health and nutrition than ever before. They are reading up online and then choosing the vitamins, supplements and herbal remedies that best fit with their lifestyle and health conditions.

“We’re seeing growth in most of our export markets, especially among some of the more traditionally health-conscious nations, such as Sweden, and also in Iceland where our products are marketed on national television.”

The company has created seven new jobs at its St George’s Park base, Kirkham, in the past 12-months, taking staff numbers to 60. It is planning further recruitment to coincide with projected growth.

Natures Aid has been receiving advice from accountancy and business advisory firm Moore and Smalley in a number of specialist areas, including R&D tax relief and international trade, alongside audit and accounts, pensions advice and payroll.

Stephen Brownwood, corporate manager at Moore and Smalley, said: “To have an established business enjoying such strong growth, particularly in the export market, is great news for the region. The company is a major investor in R&D and is creating new jobs here in Lancashire, which is helping to boost the local economy. As a long-term adviser to Natures Aid, we look forward to assisting Lynn and the team with further international expansion.”

Lynn added: “Our UK manufacturing base is very important to us as it gives us vital continuity of supply and we’re incredibly proud of the fact we’ve kept our manufacturing here in Lancashire for over 30 years.

“Moore and Smalley has been a trusted long-term partner for our business. What we value about this partnership is the size of the firm gives us access to a wide range of experts in different specialist areas. The advice we receive has been integral to our growth over a number of years.”

Natures Aid was established by Lynn, her husband David and their colleague Paul Marshall when the three of them were made redundant during the recession of the early 1980s.

The business has grown steadily over the years and reached a turnover of £5.8m in 2014 and £6.5m in 2015. Its customers include Ocado, Amazon UK, McCabes Pharmacy and Dudley Taylor Pharmacy Group as well as many other leading health food retailers in the UK. Earlier this year the business won an International Achievement Award at the Lancashire Red Rose Awards, and also been shortlisted for a number of other export awards.