Starbrite Chemicals
Starbrite Chemicals is a UK-based manufacturer of cleaning chemicals and equipment, founded in 1988 as part of the Intachem Group. It serves UK consumers, trade valeters and detailers, catering and janitorial businesses, distributors, and outdoor/cycling enthusiasts through a multi-vertical XPERT Range product portfolio sold via e-commerce, trade accounts, and reseller channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersBolney, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Starbrite Chemicals does
Starbrite Chemicals is a UK-based manufacturer of cleaning chemicals and related equipment, founded in 1988 and operating as a subsidiary of the Intachem Group. The company is headquartered at Chart House, Reigate, Surrey with operational facilities in Bolney, West Sussex, and serves a UK-domestic market across multiple use-case verticals: automotive and transport (vehicle shampoos, traffic film removers, wheel cleaners, dressings), food service and janitorial (catering and food industry chemicals), garden and outdoor (patio cleaners, moss and algae removers), and cycling/motorcycling (bike and motorbike cleaners, drivetrain cleaners, lubricants). Its product portfolio is structured around the XPERT Range sub-brands (Auto Xpert, Bike Xpert, Garden Xpert, Leather Xpert, Trainer Xpert, Truck Xpert, Auto Xpert Classic, Outdoor Xpert) alongside core lines such as Safe Hands hand sanitisers, Super Shampoo (described as the best-seller, priced at £37.50 for 25 litres), and supporting automotive sundries, brushes, cloths, and chemical sprayers.
Core technology centres on chemical formulation: the Bike Xpert range uses nano technology to break down dirt at a molecular level and features fully biodegradable, alkaline-based formulas free from acids, solvents and CFCs; the broader catalogue emphasises environmentally responsible formulations. The company describes itself as a UK-independent market leader with over 35 years of heritage in the cleaning chemicals sector. Approximately 70+ chemical products are produced, with production backed by UK manufacturing operations.
The business model combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce through starbrite.co.uk (free UK delivery on orders over £50-£100, next-day delivery available), dedicated trade accounts with multi-year pricing structures for valeters, detailers, cleaning businesses and catering establishments, and a distributor/reseller recruitment programme. Products are priced from approximately £1.20 for basic items up to £75+ for industrial equipment, with volume discounts via trade accounts. No revenue, headcount growth rate, funding history, certifications, or named enterprise customers are disclosed; the company is private and operates exclusively within the United Kingdom.
Starbrite Chemicals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Starbrite Chemicals
- Legal name
- STARBRITE CHEMICALS LIMITED
- Website
- https://starbrite.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Starbrite Chemicals is a UK-based manufacturer of cleaning chemicals and equipment, founded in 1988 as part of the Intachem Group. It serves UK consumers, trade valeters and detailers, catering and janitorial businesses, distributors, and outdoor/cycling enthusiasts through a multi-vertical XPERT Range product portfolio sold via e-commerce, trade accounts, and reseller channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Starbrite Chemicals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial & Household Cleaning Chemicals
- NAICS
- Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Polish and Other Sanitation Good Manufacturing (325612)
- SIC
- Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commodity Surfactants & Detergent Base Chemicals (IMAEAAAI)
Keywords
Where Starbrite Chemicals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bolney
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Starbrite Chemicals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales - E-commerce: Direct online sales through starbrite.co.uk to consumers and trade customers. Products include automotive cleaning chemicals, janitorial supplies, hand sanitisers, garden care products, and sundries/equipment. Revenue is generated through one-time transaction purchases with tiered pricing for different quantities.
- Trade/Wholesale Distribution: Supply of cleaning chemicals and equipment to trade customers including valeters, detailers, cleaning businesses, and catering establishments. Offers dedicated trade pricing and account enquiries for bulk orders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing for individual consumers and small trade customers |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Trade account pricing for registered trade customers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Starbrite Chemicals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Starbrite Chemicals manufactures and supplies a wide range of cleaning chemicals and equipment for the UK market, including aerosols, air fresheners, traffic film removers, shampoos, polishes and waxes, dressings, wheel cleaners, winter products, hand sanitisers, surface sanitisers, hand washes, catering/janitorial chemicals, and sundries/equipment. Its specialist XPERT Range offers application-specific formulations across automotive, bicycle/motorcycle, garden/outdoor, leather, footwear (trainer), commercial truck, classic/vintage vehicle, and outdoor equipment cleaning. Products are sold direct to consumers via the company's own e-commerce site and to trade customers via dedicated trade accounts and an active distributor network.
Product overview
Starbrite Chemicals is a UK-based manufacturer and supplier of quality cleaning chemicals and equipment. The company operates a multi-brand portfolio organized by application area, centered around the XPERT Range sub-brands (Auto Xpert, Bike Xpert, Garden Xpert, Leather Xpert, Trainer Xpert, Truck Xpert, Auto Xpert Classic, and Outdoor Xpert) for specialized cleaning applications, alongside core product lines including Safe Hands hand sanitisers, Super Shampoo vehicle care products, hand washes and surface sanitisers, automotive sundries and equipment, and janitorial/food industry chemicals. The XPERT Range products are positioned as premium specialized solutions while the broader product catalogue serves both trade and retail customers across automotive, industrial, food service, and domestic cleaning markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- XPERT RANGE: Specialist product range including Auto Xpert, Bike Xpert, Garden Xpert, Leather Xpert, Trainer Xpert, Truck Xpert, and Outdoor Xpert product lines for automotive, cycling, garden, leather care, footwear, truck care, and outdoor surface cleaning.
- Safe Hands
- Auto Xpert
- Bike Xpert
- Garden Xpert
- Leather Xpert
- Trainer Xpert
- Truck Xpert
- Outdoor Xpert
- Auto Xpert Classic
Quantifiable outcome
- 50m2 coverage per 5 litres for Garden Xpert Patio Cleaner
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Starbrite Chemicals
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Starbrite Chemicals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Starbrite Chemicals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Intachem Groupparent companyStarbrite Chemicals is part of the Intachem Group, a larger chemical manufacturing and distribution group operating in the UK market. This relationship provides operational scale and market presence for Starbrite within the cleaning chemicals sector.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Starbrite Chemicals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Autoglym: UK-based manufacturer of automotive cleaning, polishing and valeting products with a multi-decade heritage and overlapping SKU set (shampoos, polishes, wheel cleaners, traffic film removers). Directly comparable in geography, end customers (car washes, valeters, detailers) and product portfolio.
- Bilt Hamber: UK independent manufacturer of specialist car care chemicals including surfactants, degreasers and traffic film removers, selling direct-to-consumer and through trade channels. Comparable as a similarly sized British specialist chemical formulator serving the automotive cleaning niche.
- ValetPRO: UK-based producer of detailing and valeting chemicals for professional and enthusiast users, distributed through e-commerce and detailing trade channels. Directly comparable in target customers (detailers, valeters), product categories (shampoos, decontaminants, polishes) and UK-focused distribution model.
- Angelwax: Scottish/UK manufacturer of specialist automotive cleaning and detailing chemicals, including biodegradable formulations, sold via e-commerce and trade accounts. Comparable as a UK niche formulator with vertical-specialist branding analogous to Starbrite's XPERT Range.
- Duel Auto Care: UK-based manufacturer of professional car care chemicals including wheel cleaners, snow foams and traffic film removers, sold direct and via UK distributors. Comparable as a similarly positioned small/mid-sized UK specialist competitor with overlapping SKUs and trade channel focus.
Broad incumbents
- Koch-Chemie: German manufacturer of professional detailing and cleaning chemicals serving car washes, valeters and detailing centres across Europe and globally. Comparable as a larger, more internationally distributed incumbent in the same specialty cleaning chemicals category Starbrite operates in.
- Sonax: German-founded global car care brand producing polishes, shampoos, wheel cleaners and detailing chemicals for consumer and professional markets. Comparable as a larger, broader-portfolio incumbent in automotive cleaning chemicals that Starbrite competes with in the UK detailing trade channel.
- Meguiar's: US-originated global car care brand (3M-owned) producing polishes, waxes, shampoos and surface treatments sold through retail and detailing channels. Comparable as a global incumbent in automotive surface care competing for the same detailing and consumer customers Starbrite serves.
- Turtle Wax: US-based mass-market car care brand with broad consumer retail distribution of cleaners, polishes and air fresheners, including aerosol lines overlapping Starbrite's aerosol/sundries offering. Comparable as a much larger global incumbent in adjacent automotive cleaning and aerosol categories.
Emerging players
- Chemical Guys: US-based direct-to-consumer car care brand that scaled primarily through social media and enthusiast channels with a deep SKU catalogue of shampoos, polishes and detailing chemicals. Comparable as a digitally-led specialist competitor reaching Starbrite's same enthusiast and detailing trade end-customers through e-commerce.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Starbrite Chemicals social profiles
Digital presenceStarbrite Chemicals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Starbrite Chemicals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Starbrite Chemicals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Starbrite Chemicals M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Starbrite Chemicals
What does Starbrite Chemicals do?
Starbrite Chemicals manufactures and supplies a wide range of cleaning chemicals and equipment for the UK market, including aerosols, air fresheners, traffic film removers, shampoos, polishes and waxes, dressings, wheel cleaners, winter products, hand sanitisers, surface sanitisers, hand washes, catering/janitorial chemicals, and sundries/equipment. Its specialist XPERT Range offers application-specific formulations across automotive, bicycle/motorcycle, garden/outdoor, leather, footwear (trainer), commercial truck, classic/vintage vehicle, and outdoor equipment cleaning. Products are sold direct to consumers via the company's own e-commerce site and to trade customers via dedicated trade accounts and an active distributor network.
Is Starbrite Chemicals a public or private company?
Starbrite Chemicals is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Starbrite Chemicals founded?
Starbrite Chemicals was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Starbrite Chemicals based?
Starbrite Chemicals is headquartered in Bolney, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Starbrite Chemicals make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales - E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are trade/Wholesale Distribution.
Who are Starbrite Chemicals's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Autoglym, Bilt Hamber, ValetPRO, Angelwax and Duel Auto Care. Broad incumbents are Koch-Chemie, Sonax, Meguiar's and Turtle Wax. Chemical Guys is listed as an emerging player.
Does Starbrite Chemicals have an API?
No public API is recorded for Starbrite Chemicals.
What industry is Starbrite Chemicals in?
Starbrite Chemicals's product category is Industrial & Household Cleaning Chemicals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAAAI, Commodity Surfactants & Detergent Base Chemicals. Its NAICS code is 32561 and its SIC code is 2840.