Dr Organic – a rapidly growing Welsh business specialising in the development of a range of natural and organic skincare and beauty products – has signed a £9 million distribution deal for the Middle East.
The business, which is headquartered in Swansea, only began trading a year ago and already has its entire range exclusively stocked in every Holland and Barrett store in the UK.
The Dr Organic range is currently the subject of a major media advertising campaign by Holland and Barrett, fronted by television presenter Gethin Jones.
Steve Quinn and Fred Whitcomb, the entrepreneurs behind Dr Organic have a track record in this sector and are no strangers to success. They built up the Cardiff based Optima brand specialising in health food supplements and cosmetics – selling it for £23 million in 2005.
The Dr Organic range, produced from natural and organic ingredients sourced from around the world, currently has 68 products in six variants and in June launches 57 new products across three different variants.
Steve Quinn and Fred Whitcomb are now targeting international markets with their export drive supported by the Welsh Assembly Government.
The £9 million five year distribution deal in the Middle East is their largest to date although Dr Organic is already making inroads across Europe, South Africa and Australasia.
The company is benefiting from a number of services provided by the Assembly Government designed to support Welsh companies trade internationally which included its attendance at the World Organic Trade Fair Biofach in Nuremburg this February.
It resulted in substantial interest from Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China and Mr Whitcomb said the support was invaluable
“We firmly believe the Dr Organic brand has the potential to become global and international markets offer huge potential. The support of the Assembly Government in assisting us to promote the Company overseas has opened up a range of new opportunities.
“The interest resulting from our attendance at Biofach was quite amazing and far better than we could have anticipated and the success was measureable.”
Ieuan Wyn Jones, Minister for the Economy and Transport, said the rapid growth of the business was particularly note worthy because it had started trading in the middle of a recession.
“It clearly illustrates the fact that there is always a market for new and innovative products in the UK and overseas and how trading internationally can present major new opportunities and new markets for Welsh companies.
“I am pleased to see that Dr Organic is being supported by the Assembly Government and successfully targeting overseas trade. Dynamic young businesses like this have an important contribution to make to the future development of the Welsh economy as we move out of recession.”
Dr Organic employs seven people at its head office in the JShed, Swansea, where the sales, marketing and administration functions are based. It carries out product development in house, retains the Intellectual Property Rights in Wales and outsources manufacturing.
Steve Quinn said the Dr Organic range is proving to be particularly successful because only natural organic elements are used and the active ingredient in each product – whether Aloe Vera, Vitamin E or Manuka honey – is the main ingredient.
“The price is also what differentiates the Dr Organic range from other products – it is an affordable range which widens the customer base dramatically without compromising quality.
“The Holland and Barrett collaboration has also been central. It is a mutually beneficial contract providing us with an extremely important launch client while providing Holland and Barrett with exclusive rights and a significant entrance into the skincare market.”
Products from the Dr Organic range have won three Awards this year from Healthy Magazine Readers Choice, the UK’s biggest selling Health magazine and their Organic Manuka Hand and Nail Cream won a top award from The Green Beauty Bible.
