BEAUTY and cosmetics company Swallowfield is set to expand by buying a London-based firm for £11 million, writes Barry Knott.

Swallowfield has its headquarters in Station Road, Wellington, where it employs between 250 and 300 employees, depending on the number of agency workers.

World-wide it has a workforce of 500 at six sites, including the USA and China.

In a statement issued yesterday, the company said: “We can confirm that Swallowfield plc has conditionally agreed to acquire London-based Brand Architekts Ltd for a consideration of £11m. The acquisition is conditional upon shareholder approval which we expect to receive at a General Meeting on June 27.

“Brand Architekts is a very successful business that develops and markets a portfolio of beauty, body and haircare brands in the UK and internationally. It forms an integral part of Swallowfield’s strategy to complement its core contract manufacturing activities with the continued development of its owned-brands business.

“We believe that the acquisition will make Swallowfield stronger financially and in doing so increase our ability to invest in our manufacturing facilities, our R&D resources and our quality processes. Furthermore, it can only improve our ability to understand consumer trends and retail channels, all of which can help make us a better supplier to our core customer base.

“A full announcement will be made following shareholder approval of the deal.”

On its website the company says: “Our mission is to make beauty and personal care products that uplift and inspire, that are taken to the heart of every home, that pioneer and excite.

“As such, we are passionate about pushing the boundaries of possibility in our range of formulations and our adoption of technological advances. To drive innovation we invest in facilities, employ great people and stay ahead of emerging trends: we are highly creative, flexible and progressive, and our clients experience the benefits of this attitude with every new product.”