Lancashire-based supplement maker forecasts revenue growth and new jobs

A health supplement maker based in Lancashire is on track to achieve turnover growth of 12% and create jobs in 2016 after increasing exports.

Preston firm Natures Aid, which sells its supplements to distributors and wholesalers in over 30 countries, is expecting to hit sales of £7.4m next year due to a growing demand for health products in nations abroad, particularly in the Middle East and Northern Europe.

In the past 12 months, the firm has created seven new jobs at its base in St George’s Park, bringing its staff count to 60, with further job creation in the pipeline.

Lynn Lord, the managing director of 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 firm has also attributed the projected revenue increase to growth with online retailers such as Amazon UK, where it has reported a high demand for children’s vitamin liquids and herbal remedies like St John’s wort.

Natures Aid is now receiving advice from Moore and Smalley, the Preston-headquartered accountancy and business advisory company, on matters such as international trade, audit and accounts, payroll, pensions and R&D tax relief.

Moore and Smalley’s corporate manager, Stephen Brownwood, commented: “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 established Natures Aid along with her husband David and Paul Marshall, their colleague, when they were faced with redundancy in the early 1980s. Since then the firm has grown, reaching a turnover of £5.8m last year and £6.5m in 2015.

Lynn continued: “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.”