Holchem Laboratories

Holchem Laboratories Ltd was founded in 1982 by Steve and Anne Bell at their home in Holcombe Brook, Bury. After over a decade working in the specialist cleaning chemical industry for a large US multinational, Mr Bell saw a gap in the market for a company supplying into the UK Food and Beverage industries that not only manufactured high quality products but could also provide unrivalled levels of customer service. By 1985, the company bought its first manufacturing site in Ramsbottom; a facility the company retained until 1992. With turnover approaching £2.5m, the company relocated to Haslingden. Over the next few years, sales increased significantly as the industry recognized Holchem as a significant provider to the market not only in the UK but also Ireland. By 1999 a second factory was commissioned at the Haslingden site to allow continued expansion of the business. This facility included new laboratory facilities, as the company recognised the importance of product development to the future growth plans. The company also expanded its operations into the catering and hospitality markets, utilizing the same philosophy that had been so successful to the food and beverage markets. By 2002, the company’s turnover exceeded £10 million and by 2005 a third facility in Haslingden was in operation. The two sites on Grane Road were manufacturing the products whilst the third facility on the Carrs Industrial Estate was a distribution warehouse. During this decade, Holchem began exporting their products via reputable distributors who would support the customer at all costs, very much in the way that Steve Bell envisaged. Holchem products are now available in the Baltic States, Malta and Poland. With turnover approaching £21 million by 2009, a fourth unit was leased as further space was required to store more finished goods. Still a family owned business, headed by the founder’s son, Simon Bell as Managing Director, and Sam Hardman, the founders daughter, as Director, the company has grown for successive years since its inception back in 1982. Due to continued growth the company relocated in 2013 to a single 9 acre site in Bury. The facility, Gateway House, has been completely modernised, refurbished and extended from the original 93,000 sq. ft. to now encompass 105,000 sq. ft. of process area, warehousing, technical centre and offices. It houses all operations under the same roof for the first time since 1999. Modern tank farm and state of the art production facilities are combined with storage for almost 5,000 pallets for packaging and finished goods. The entire warehouse is covered by a modern ESFR sprinkler system and associated fire protection. As well as all the various departmental offices, there is a large training facility, numerous meeting rooms, food factory standard changing facilities, first aid room, staff canteen, communal break out areas and a staff gym offering free use to our staff. The site will also allow Holchem to expand; with the room to add an additional 45,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space in the future.