What GRI Group does

GRI Group Ltd is a privately held UK-based holding company headquartered in Sheffield, operating three subsidiary businesses across the specialty chemicals and personal care value chain. The group comprises Libra Speciality Chemicals, a Manchester-based surfactant and specialty chemical manufacturer; Expac (Preston) Ltd, a BRCGS Grade AA-certified contract manufacturer of personal care, cosmetics, fragrances, and household products; and I Love Cosmetics Limited, a consumer bath, body, and beauty brand. Founded in 2001, the group employs 101–250 people and is led by Chairman and CEO Dr. Graham Royle. The portfolio is vertically integrated from raw chemical intermediates through to finished branded goods, allowing the group to serve industrial formulators, retailer and brand-owner contract manufacturing clients, and end consumers across global markets.

Libra Speciality Chemicals manufactures a broad surfactant portfolio including amphoterics (betaines and dipropionates), amine oxides, alkanolamides, anionic surfactants, and cationic polymers, with stated production capacity of 32,000 tonnes per annum of Cocamidopropyl Betaine and 66,000 tonnes per annum of amine oxides. Expac operates an 80,000 square-foot contract manufacturing facility in Preston producing liquids, creams, gels, lotions, talc, and bath salts in plastic and glass containers, with a 70m² R&D lab added in 2022. I Love Cosmetics markets consumer products under the Original, Signature, Naturals, Wellness, and Live Life Happy collections, sold in 30–40 countries through Boots, The Range, Shoppers Drug Mart, and other retailers, and won the Queens Award for International Trade in 2013.

GRI Group generates revenue through three channels: chemical intermediate manufacturing and distribution (Libra), contract manufacturing and packing services (Expac), and branded consumer product sales (I Love Cosmetics). Pricing is quote-based for industrial chemicals and contract manufacturing, while consumer products range from £1.49 for body spritzers to £15 for candles and gift sets. The group maintains distribution partnerships with KLK OLEO and Surfachem Nordic, holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, RSPO Supply Chain, Sedex, BRCGS Grade AA, EFfCI, and COMAH (Seveso III) certifications, and has pursued ongoing expansion through new product launches, distributor appointments, and the January 2026 acquisition of MPM Consumer Products.

Name

GRI Group

Legal name

GRI Group Ltd

Website

https://grigroup.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

GRI Group is a UK-based private holding company operating three subsidiaries — Libra Speciality Chemicals (surfactant manufacturer), Expac (personal care contract manufacturer), and I Love Cosmetics (bath and body brand) — serving industrial customers, brand owners, and global retail consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Chemical Intermediates Manufacturing and Distribution: Development, manufacture and distribution of chemical intermediates including surfactants, speciality chemicals and betaines for Personal Care, Household Care, Pharmaceutical and Industrial applications.
2. Personal Care Product Sales: Brand management and marketing of Personal Care, Toiletries & Cosmetics products under the I LOVE brand, sold through retail partners and direct-to-consumer e-commerce.
3. Contract Manufacturing Services: Formulation, manufacturing and contract packing services for personal care, cosmetics, fragrances, household and health products for brand owners and retailers.
4. Toll and Contract Manufacturing: Chemical toll manufacturing and contract manufacturing services for SME's to multinationals, providing tolling through to fully serviced manufacturing capability.
5. Distribution Partnerships: Distribution of third-party chemical products including KLK OLEO surfactants and ethoxylates as official UK and Nordic distributors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GRI Group is a UK-based holding company operating three associated businesses: Libra Speciality Chemicals develops, manufactures and distributes surfactants and specialty chemicals (betaines, amine oxides, polyquaterniums, APGs, alkanolamides) for personal care, household care, pharmaceutical and industrial applications; Expac (Preston) Ltd provides formulation, contract manufacturing and packing services for personal care, cosmetics, fragrances, household and health products from its 80,000 sq ft BRC/Sedex/Cosmos-approved facility; and I Love Cosmetics markets branded bath, body and beauty products across Original, Signature, Naturals, Wellness and Live Life Happy collections.

Product overview

GRI Group is a parent holding company operating three main subsidiary businesses across the chemical manufacturing and personal care products value chain. The portfolio consists of: (1) Libra Speciality Chemicals - a leading UK-based chemical manufacturer and distributor of surfactants and speciality chemicals serving Personal Care, Household Care, Industrial, Agriculture, Water Treatment and Paints & Coatings sectors; (2) Expac (Preston) Ltd - a BRC/Sedex/Cosmos-approved formulator and contract manufacturer for personal care, cosmetics, fragrances and household products with an 80,000 sq ft facility in Preston; and (3) I Love Cosmetics - an award-winning British bath, body and beauty brand (Queens Award winner 2013) marketing products across Original, Signature, Naturals and Wellness collections. These associated businesses specialize in development, manufacture and distribution of chemical intermediates and finished personal care products, providing formulation, manufacturing and contract packing services alongside branded consumer goods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Libra Speciality Chemicals: Leading chemical manufacturer and distributor of surfactants and speciality chemicals serving Personal Care, Household Care, Industrial & Institutional Cleaning, Oil & Gas, Agriculture, Lubricants, Water Treatment, Metal Working and Paints and Coatings sectors.
• Expac (Preston) Ltd
• I LOVE Cosmetics

Products and services

• I Love Cosmetics branded bath, body and beauty products Award-winning British bath, body and beauty brand offering mindfully formulated, sustainably sourced and uniquely designed products including body washes, body mists, bath salts, body butters, hand creams, candles and reed diffusers. Won the Queens Award for International Trade in 2013. Sold via retail partners including Boots UK, The Range, Shoppers Drug Mart (Canada) and direct-to-consumer e-commerce.
• I Love Original Collection First I Love Cosmetics collection including Pink Marshmallow, Mango & Papaya, Raspberry & Blackberry, Strawberries & Cream, Coconut & Cream, Chocolate Fudge Cake and Minty Choc Chip fragrances, sold across bath, body and gift formats.
• I Love Signature Collection Softer floral fruity fragrance collection with Violet Dreams, Vanilla Milk, Elderflower Fizz, English Rose, Exotic Fruit and Glazed Raspberry variants, available in body washes, body mists, bath salts, body butters and hand and nail cream.
• I Love Naturals Collection Naturally inspired bath and body collection with skin-soothing plant extracts and natural ingredients, featuring Rose & Argan, Tonka Bean & Myrrh, Bergamot & Seaweed and Lime, Ginger & Cardamom. Vegan accredited with sustainable packaging.
• I Love Wellness Collection Self-care focused collection harnessing natural fragrances and essential oils with four scents: Sleep, Calm, Energy and De-Stress. Spa-like treatment products designed for sleep, stress reduction, energy boost and mindful moments.
• I Love Live Life Happy Collection All-year-round gifting collection including bath fizzers, face masks, lip care sets, shower gel sets and pamper packs designed for sleepovers to birthdays.
• Libra Speciality Chemicals chemical manufacturing and distribution Leading UK chemical manufacturer and distributor of surfactants and specialty chemicals into global markets. Products include Amphoterics (Betaines and Dipropionates), Non-Ionics (Alkanolamides, Amine oxides, Alcohol alkoxylates), Anionics (Sulphosuccinates, Phosphate Esters, Alkyl benzene sulphonates, Alkyl ether sulphates), Cationics (Polyquaternium) and Detergent and Car Care concentrates. One of the largest independent chemical manufacturers in the UK with over 47 years of operation.
• Libranox Amine Oxides Non-ionic surfactants renowned for detergency, foam-boosting and foam-stabilising properties used in cleaning and personal care markets including shampoos, bubble baths, hair conditioners, dishwashing detergents, laundry detergents and liquid bleach products. Production capacity of 66,000 tonnes per annum including RSPO certified grades.
• Libraquat PQ7 (Polyquaternium-7) Cationic, water-soluble surfactant with excellent properties for personal care applications including shampoos, hair conditioners, detangling products, emollient skin cleansers, shower gels and liquid hand soaps, providing skin and hair with a silky-smooth feel.
• Libradet 40 Synergistic blend of surfactants and foam stabilisers for production of superior-quality lightweight (foamed) concrete mixes with excellent thermal insulation properties. Used in building industry, roofing, floor screeds, fire retardancy and trench reinstatement. Complies with ASTM C869 international building standard for foamed concrete.
• Libranol Alkanolamide Surfactants Range of coco alkanolamides and amide oxides for household cleaning and personal care industries, with RSPO-certified products derived from palm kernel oil-based materials.
• Librasan Hand Sanitiser Hand sanitiser gel formulations containing 70% alcohol for effective sanitisation. Includes Librasan 70B (standard formulation) and Librasan 70E (premium formulation with glycerine and Vitamin E). Tested against BS EN 1276:2019, BS EN 1500:2013 and BS EN 14476 standards for antimicrobial and antiviral efficacy.
• LibraCare APGs (Alkyl Polyglucosides) Non-ionic surfactants derived from renewable raw materials including fatty alcohols from coconut and palm kernel oils and glucose from corn. Made from naturally derived, vegan, renewable and GMO-free raw materials for personal care formulations.
• Librateric DAB-LS (Laurylmidopropyl Betaine) 35% active, very low salt (<0.5%), high pH, self-preserving laurylmidopropyl betaine manufactured from certified sustainable Non-GMO Palm Kernel Oil. Natural Content of 100% (to ISO 16128), available as RSPO Mass Balance grade for cosmetic formulations.
• Expac (Preston) Ltd contract manufacturing and packing Formulator and contract manufacturer and packer focusing on personal care, cosmetics, fragrances, household and health sectors. Products include liquids, creams, gels, waxes, lotions, perfumes, fragrances, talc, body powders and bath salts packed into plastic and glass containers. BRCGS Grade AA, Sedex and Cosmos approved with an 80,000 square feet factory in Preston and dedicated zones for liquids, powders and alcohol blending and filling.
• Expac Waterless Beauty Products Range of waterless washing powders developed by Expac covering skincare, shampoos, conditioners and in-use shower wash formulations.
• I Love Professional COVID-19 Product Range Enhanced portfolio of anti-bacterial hygiene and cleaning products including 70% w/w hand sanitiser, anti-bacterial hand wash, moisturising hand lotion and antiseptic disinfectant tested and approved to EN1276 standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Libra achieved 24% growth in export sales in one year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KLK TensachemcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2018Libra Speciality Chemicals appointed as official UK distributor for KLK Tensachem products, expanding portfolio to include Tensaryl, Tensagex and Tensopol ranges for Personal Care, Home Care and I&I sectors. KLK Tensachem is a large scale global manufacturer of anionic surfactants based near Liège in Belgium.
• KLK KolbcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2018Libra Speciality Chemicals appointed as official UK distributor for KLK Kolb ethoxylates, strengthening distribution partnerships and providing access to extended range of carefully selected products.
• Surfachem NordiccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 2017Official appointment of Surfachem Nordic as distributor for all Libra Products in the Nordic region. The agreement was signed between Lasse K. Hammerstad (Managing Director Surfachem Nordic) and Richard Lock (Sales & Marketing Director of Libra). Surfachem Nordic is a market leading distributor of speciality chemicals to personal care, household, I&I, pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals markets.
• KLK OLEOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLibra Speciality Chemicals is UK official distribution partner of KLK OLEO for surfactants and ethoxylates.
• Sheffield Eagles Rugby League TeamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGRI Group and I Love Cosmetics are proud main sponsors of Sheffield Eagles for 2020 season. The long-term sponsorship includes kit sponsorship, product sampling and gifting at corporate and charity events.
• Chemicals NorthwestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLibra is a proud supporter and active member of Chemicals Northwest - the UK's largest industry-led organisation for the chemical sector.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• McBride: UK-listed manufacturer of private-label and contract-manufactured household and personal-care products; directly comparable to Expac's contract-manufacturing and contract-packing model for retailer and brand-owner customers.
• PZ Cussons: UK-listed personal-care and consumer-products company (Imperial Leather, Original Source, Carex); closely comparable as a UK-headquartered branded personal-care business with similar retail distribution dynamics to I Love Cosmetics.
• Innospec: US-listed global specialty performance chemicals company whose Performance Chemicals segment supplies surfactants and personal-care ingredients directly comparable to Libra's amphoteric, non-ionic and cationic ranges.
• Stepan Company: US-listed manufacturer of surfactants for personal care, cleaning, agricultural and industrial uses; a closely comparable mid-cap peer in the same surfactant chemistry categories Libra produces (betaines, amine oxides, anionic blends).
• Swallowfield (now Halsa Pharmaceuticals): UK-based contract manufacturer and packer of personal-care and beauty products, including licensed brands; competes with Expac for retailer and brand-owner contract manufacturing opportunities.
• KLK OLEO: Malaysian-headquartered global manufacturer of oleochemicals, fatty alcohols, surfactants and ethoxylates; a direct upstream peer in surfactant chemistry and also a distribution partner of Libra in the UK.

Broad incumbents

• Croda International: UK-listed global leader in speciality chemicals for personal care, home care and industrial markets, including a large surfactants and ingredients portfolio that competes directly with Libra Speciality Chemicals' customer base.
• Evonik Industries: German speciality chemicals major with a large personal-care and cleaning ingredients division, overlapping with Libra's surfactant and conditioning polymer (e.g. Polyquaternium-7) offerings.
• Solvay: Belgian speciality chemicals group supplying surfactants and intermediates to personal-care, home-care and industrial markets comparable to Libra's customer base; recently split its specialty activities into Syensqo.
• BASF: Global diversified chemicals leader with a sizeable personal-care and home-care ingredients portfolio, including surfactants and betaines that compete for the same blue-chip personal-care brand-owner customers as Libra.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gri-group-limited

Compliance15 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GRI Group