Highland soap firm is scenting success in Aviemore
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Highland Soap Co is aiming to enjoy the sweet smell of success in Aviemore.
The company unveiled its seventh retail store on Friday in an expansion designed to meet a major surge in demand for its products from customers in Scotland and around the world.
The firm, which produces luxury handmade bath, body and skincare products inspired by Highland landscapes, is creating three local jobs.
Emma Parton, who founded the Fort William-based company in 2001, said: “We are excited to announce the opening our seventh retail store.
“The shop will enable customers in Aviemore to experience our range of organic, natural products and mark the start of a new and exciting chapter for us.
“We believe that our products are the finest and most ethical soap and skincare products made in Scotland, and we’re proud that our customers across the globe have continued to support us throughout the pandemic.
“During the past year, shopping habits have changed, with many customers favouring local, sustainable businesses and products made by hand by skilled craftspeople.”
The company has also struck an agreement for export of products to a third continent after concluding negotiations with a supplier to retailers in Hong Kong.
This in addition to the 350 retail stockists already established across Europe and North America.
The company has reported a 25 per cent rise in sales for the 2020/21 financial year, quadrupling what they were in 2017.
Its workforce has grown by nearly 30 per cent in the last year, despite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic.
Ms Parton said: “We have always prided ourselves on being the greenest makers of soaps and skincare products in Scotland, and have always been ahead of the curve when it comes to reducing unnecessary plastic.
“This year, we have gone a step further by committing to packaging our shampoo, body washes and conditioners in 250ml bottles made of biopolymer, a plastic made from sugarcane.
“We plan to extend sustainable packaging to our other product lines as soon as we are able.”
Highland Soap Co is family run, with more than 50 employees.
Last year, it responded to the outbreak of Covid-19 by developing a range of scented hand sanitisers made with 70 per cent alcohol sourced from a Highland distiller.
Their products have since been featured on ITV’s This Morning, where they were hailed by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield as one of the best hand sanitisers on the market in the UK.
