A business that makes natural, sustainable and organic health and beauty products is taking a new warehouse and offices in Derbyshire.
Weleda has agreed a long-term lease with fellow Derbyshire-based company Clowes Developments on a 23,500sq ft premises at the Etiquette Park industrial estate.
It is one of two buildings construction contractor TanRo was brought in to start working at the new business park back in January.
The second unit is being built for Catering24, another local business. Both the catering supplies specialist and Weleda are said to be keen to remain close to their roots, retain their workforce and continue to grow their within the area.
Planning permission for both units, totalling 50,000 sq ft, was approved by Erewash Borough Council at end of last year and both occupiers hope to move by the end of this year.
Weleda UK managing director Jayn Sterland said: “We are excited to be expanding our existing operations at Heanor Road with a brand-new warehouse and office space at Etiquette Park, which will be tailored to meet our very individual needs.
“As a manufacturer of natural and organic cosmetics and holistic wellbeing products, it is essential that our stock is stored in very specific conditions which meet GMP standards.
“The new build will allow us to grow our business whilst remaining in the area where our manufacturing site and Demeter-certified organic medicinal herb gardens are also based.
“The new facility means our customer care team can also relocate to Etiquette Park, which will in turn free up space for us at Heanor Road to enable us to expand the rest of our operations as we grow.”
Weleda was founded in Switzerland in 1921, and the British Weleda Company was set up in London in 1925. For the last four decades it has been based in Ilkeston, with its herb growing site just up the road at Shipley.
Today Weleda UK is part of an international group employing more than 2,500 people in more than 50 countries across five continents.
Its cosmetic supply chains are certified sustainable, and products bear the UEBT ‘Sourcing with Respect’ seal, whilst its natural and organic formulations are NATRUE certified. It is still privately owned by its founding family.
Catering24 agreed a lease for a neighbouring purpose-built warehouse and distribution facility at Etiquette Park last year.
The deal marks significant expansion for the food packaging distributor which is reported to have doubled its turnover in the past 18 months.
Clowes said Catering24 has the option to purchase the property within the first two years – which it plans to do – and it will see a total investment in the warehouse, equipment, racking and IT software of £2.8 million.
Richard Sutton is managing director at NG Chartered Surveyors which was the joint agent on the site.
He said: “It's fantastic to see TanRo progressing with such pace at Etiquette Park and I'm proud of our involvement in the bespoke scheme by Clowes Developments.
“Letting over 50,000 sq ft of space shows just what a quality development Etiquette Park is, and I wish both Weleda and Catering24 all the very best in their new homes.”
Tim Gilbertson, a director at the other joint agent FHP Property Consultants, said: “This has been a really good outcome for Clowes as well as for the Ilkeston market.”
In its latest accounts, the Clowes property group reported a turnover of £106 million and an operating profit of £26.5 million.
The group holds over 3,000 acres of land and 15,000 residential plots in 130 development sites across the country, including more than 50 office and business parks and several large mixed-use sites.
