A KEIGHLEY chemical company has found the winning formula for growth.

The Friendly Chemical Co, formed four years ago, saw its revenues soar by a massive 283 per cent – to £710,000 – in the year ended March 31.

And now it is targeting £3 million by 2022.

The firm, based in Parkwood Street, manufactures and supplies products for the domestic household and personal care markets.

It is among only a few manufacturers to operate a so-called closed loop system, meaning it reuses and refills every bottle sold to create a zero-waste supply chain.

Customers can access refill stations across the country to top-up their cleaning, laundry and personal care products. Empties are collected by the company to be cleaned and reused on the production line.

The Friendly Chemical Co was established by a young entrepreneurial team led by Scott Rudd and Emma Tapper, who devised the concept after meeting at the University of Liverpool.

The business now employs 12 staff and is looking to expand as it diversifies into new markets after developing a range of ethical skincare products, under the Good Human Skincare brand.

The company has also won recognition from the UK Ethical Consumer Guide for its “positive impact” on the environment.

Scott, a director, said: “We’re a proud British manufacturer making products that people love. We understand that manufacturing, transporting and using cleaning products can have a negative impact on the environment, which is why we work hard to ensure that every raw ingredient and component is chosen carefully. We use plant-based formulas, purify our water from the Yorkshire Dales and stay well away from nasty chemicals and animal testing.

“Demand for our zero-waste solutions has led us to diversify and we’re looking forward to launching our Good Human Skincare range later this year.”

Fellow director, Emma, said the transformation of the business had been “phenomenal”. She added: “We’ve gone from a start-up manufacturing products from a garage to selling over 100,000 litres to 1,500 independent retailers across the UK every month. Our focus for the next 12 months is to increase our production capabilities and expand our team across the UK. We’re incredibly excited about the next chapter.”