PIONEERING Bury manufacturer Faith Products Ltd has 200 reasons to celebrate its 25th birthday.

That's the percentage profit increase the company has enjoyed in the past year - with help from Bolton and Bury Chamber's Business Link.

The company, which produces totally natural health and beauty products, recruited Business Link more than a year ago to help them develop.

Says joint owner Aaron Rose: "Business Link are vital partners in our success. They have helped us gain a crystal-clear perspective of where the business is going and the areas we need to focus on for profitability.

"They have helped us to develop our staff and explore new markets, such as the gift trade."

Aaron added: "Year-on-year sales have increased by 15 per cent and profits have trebled.

"With Business Link's support, we are exploring entry into continental Europe and hope that this will be a route to major growth." The business was started by Aaron's American-born wife and business partner as a kitchen-sink operation at their home near Edinburgh.

Rona Rose, a qualified herbalist, nutritionist and aromatherapist, started creating health and beauty formulations from hand-picked herbs.

The business quickly expanded into commercial premises in the Scottish capital before moving to a more central location in Bury's Kay Street ten years ago.

Says Rona: "The ethical spirit of the business has changed little since. We still hand-pick many of our raw materials - using only vegetable-based products to create our unique natural formulations and recipes to help people towards totally natural beauty and health.

"While we use traditional methods and raw materials, we have embraced new technology, and our improved profitability has enabled us to invest in the latest product-labelling machinery."

As well as producing products under contract for national and international names, the company offers its own "Faith in Nature" health and beauty and "Clearspring" natural household lines.

Champion of the allergy sufferer, the business first developed its best-selling natural soap range to help a friend's chronic eczema problem. Its natural household products are recognised by the Eczema Society.

Rona added: "We have grown organically over the years by developing products that we believe in and which are of genuine benefit in modern life. We are experimenting with new formulations all the time to constantly extend and refine our product range."

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