About Vitax - The Growing Business
We are a family, privately owned business and have been in the business of manufacturing garden and horticultural products for over 100 years and are very proud of our long tradition. During this time we have established a reputation for producing a comprehensive range of products with the emphasis on quality and cost effectiveness, and it is a policy that we plan to pursue for many more years to come.
Our origins can be traced back to G H Richards Ltd, established in 1880, based in Bermondsey, SE London, a manufacturer of a wide range of insecticides and garden sundries. These were marketed from 1947 by Synchemicals Ltd, who promoted the now well known brands of Nippon Ant Killer and SBK Brushwood Killer to the emerging gardening public. Later, Synchemicals Ltd (the parent company of Vitax Limited), acquired the business of G H Richards and that of Corry & Co Ltd, makers of the famous Corry’s Slug Death. Through the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s it built a substantial portfolio of garden and professional amenity products, and in 1978 acquired the Py Spray Company, well known for pyrethrum products.
The purchase of Vitax Ltd holder of the highly valued Royal warrant to HM The Queen, in 1988, coinciding with the move from London to large, purpose built freehold premises in Coalville, Leicestershire, heralded the next stage in the development of the business. The Synchemicals name was replaced in favour of the Vitax brand and chemicals, liquid gel and powder filling production was transferred to Woodville in Derbyshire. Fertiliser production was undertaken at the specially constructed plant at Skelmersdale in Lancashire where a wide range granular fertilisers and sizes are packed using state of the art form fill and seal plant. The quality of production was recognised in 1993 by the award of BS5750/ISO9002. On site is a fully equipped control laboratory which also undertakes soil analysis for our major users of Vitax fertilisers.
A joint venture with the Irish company, Clairstone Co Ltd in 1990, gave us valuable entry into the growing media market. Here again the Company has concentrated on producing a high quality product, marketing under the trusted Q4 label to the retail and grower sector.
2005 saw the acquisition of Supaturf Products Limited, which widened our distribution base into the Local Authority and amenity sector of the industry. Known for quality white lining liquids and line marking machines, Supaturf is an established and trusted name in the UK sports turf industry and also enjoys a significant presence in overseas markets.
The latest phase of developments has been the construction of a major warehouse extension at its site in Skelmersdale. Completed in June 2009 and equipped with state of the art warehouse racking systems, the extension has allowed us to relocate our distribution operations at Coalville, as well as its manufacturing facility at Woodville, to the enlarged freehold Skelmersdale site.
As a result of the reorganisation, Vitax has made for the 2010 season significant progress in reducing its carbon footprint with most of its customers now receiving their deliveries from a single point of manufacture and distribution.
Vitax is now well-placed to undertake the next phase of its expansion, said Charles Platt, Managing Director of Vitax Ltd, we have a large modern operating base from where we can better service all sectors of the garden and horticultural markets in which we operate.
Keeping abreast of the changing consumer requirements for more environmentally friendly products Vitax has developed hand-in-hand with its existing portfolio a growing range of well regarded organic including Supagro Fertiliser, Organic Rose Food, Organic 2 in 1 Bug Killer, Py Powder and successfully relaunched the Slug Death brand using a non-toxic ingredient.
For further details please contact the company at:
Vitax Ltd, Owen Street, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3DE
Tel: 01530 510060
Fax: 01530 510299
Website: www.vitax.co.uk
email: info@vitax.co.uk
Paul Gooding
Chairman, Vitax Ltd
For Vitax Terms and Conditions please click here.
