Partner Article

Wood shavings make comfortable profit

A Northumberland firm which specialises in making horses as comfortable as possible is preparing to expand into new European markets in the year ahead.

Bedmax, based in Belford, near Bamburgh, has been producing wood shavings to be used as bedding for horses for the last ten years, and is now preparing to focus on international markets as the UK leaves recession.

The company runs three production facilities in the UK, in Northumberland, Hampshire and Nottinghamshire, and employs around 40 people. For the last two years Bedmax has operated with a Royal Warrant of appointment to Her Majesty The Queen, supplying shavings to the Royal Stud at Sandringham.

Bedmax’s marketing manager, Barbara Hoggett, said that the economic conditions of the last two years have not had a negative effect on the company’s operations, despite opening their first plant as the recession began in November 2008.

Bedmax’s plans for 2010 are to target further international markets, as they already deal with major clients in China and other Asian countries. Barbara said: “The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a fantastic customer to supply. There are all sorts of evolving markets that we’re looking at, including France and Belgium.”

Bedmax’s bedding is designed to be dust-free, to make it as healthy as possible for the animals sleeping on it. Made chiefly from sustainable British Pine, the shavings are natural, virtually dust free and benefit from the natural antiseptic and anti-microbial properties associated with pine.

Barbara Hoggett said: “We’ve been going ten years and we are going from strength to strength.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .