Surfachem

What Surfachem does

Surfachem (legal entity: Surfachem Group Ltd, registered in Leeds, West Yorkshire) is an international speciality chemical ingredient distributor and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the 2M Group of Companies. Founded in 1981, the company distributes on behalf of industry-leading manufacturers — including Evonik, Lubrizol, Jungbunzlauer, Seppic, Givaudan, Solvay, Stepan, P&G Chemicals, Shell Chemicals, and AAK — an extensive portfolio of surfactants, emulsifiers, rheology modifiers, actives, biocides, fragrances, APIs, tablet coatings, flavours, and excipients. It holds its own trademarks (SURFAC, SURFACARE, SURQUEST) and supplies certified ingredients spanning COSMOS, ECOCERT, NATRUE, Halal, Kosher, RSPO, and pharmacopoeia standards.

The company operates a horizontal, multi-segment distribution model covering Personal Care & Cosmetics, Home/Industrial/Institutional Care, Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices, Agrochemical, Food, plus broader industrial verticals including coatings, automotive, oil & gas, and water treatment. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales via dedicated direct regional teams in Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, Nordics, Poland, Spain, and UK & Ireland — a multilingual (10+ language) salesforce — supplemented by an agent/distributor network in emerging markets (Turkey, Hong Kong, South Korea, Jordan, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tunisia). Reach spans 90+ countries. The revenue model is transactional distribution margin on chemical ingredients, with pricing kept behind registration/login.

Surfachem augments core distribution with technical services: bespoke repackaging, load consolidation (LCL/FCL), regulatory expertise, formulation support (including the 2021 Fermentation Concept Kit), laboratory services, brand development resources, and international logistics. Strategic positioning is articulated as a "synergistic link" between manufacturers and formulator customers — combining technical knowledge, market expertise, and regulatory guidance rather than acting as a pure commodity trader. Recognition includes the Queen's/King's Award for Enterprise in International Trade (2019) and back-to-back UK Export Champion designations (2019, 2021).

Name

Surfachem

Legal name

Surfachem Group Ltd

Website

https://surfachem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Surfachem is a UK-headquartered international specialty chemical ingredient distributor (a 2M Group company) that supplies surfactants, emulsifiers, rheology modifiers, actives, and APIs to formulators across personal care, home care, pharmaceutical, and industrial markets in 90+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Speciality Chemical Distribution

NAICS

Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (4242)

SIC

Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Surfactants & Performance Additives (IMAEABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surfactants & Detergent Intermediates (LAB/LAS, Ethoxylates, Sulfonates) (IMAEADAL), Bio-based Surfactants, Detergent Ingredients & Oleochemicals (EUAAAIAE), Full-Line Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (HLAIAJAA)

Keywords

• Speciality chemical distribution
• Surfactant distribution
• Personal care ingredients
• Pharmaceutical excipients supply
• Industrial cleaning chemicals

Headquarters

HQ city

Clayton West

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Ingredient Distribution: Surfachem distributes speciality chemical ingredients on behalf of industry leading manufacturers. Revenue is generated through the margin earned on distributing surfactants, emulsifiers, rheology modifiers, actives, biocides, fragrances, and other speciality chemicals to customers across various industries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Surfachem distributes an extensive portfolio of speciality chemical ingredients — including surfactants, emulsifiers, rheology modifiers, actives, biocides, fragrances, APIs, tablet coatings, flavours and excipients — on behalf of industry leading manufacturers to formulators in personal care, home/industrial/institutional care, pharmaceutical, food and agrochemical markets. The company supplements this distribution with technical formulation support, regulatory expertise, brand development services, and international logistics capabilities such as repackaging and load consolidation.

Product overview

Surfachem is an international speciality chemical ingredient distributor and a 2M Group company. They distribute an extensive portfolio of speciality chemical ingredients including surfactants, emulsifiers, rheology modifiers, actives, biocides, fragrances, rheology modifiers, solvents, APIs, tablet coatings, flavours and excipients. The product portfolio spans multiple application areas including Personal Care and Cosmetics (with sub-categories of Hair Care, Skin Care, Sun Care, Decorative Cosmetics, Oral Care, and Fragrances), Home Care (Surface Care, Floor Care, Dish Care, Laundry), Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices (Human Medicines, Veterinary Medicines, Natural Remedies), Food (Bakery, Beverages, Dairy, Meat/Fish/Poultry), Coatings and Construction, Automotive, and more. The company also provides technical services including formulation support, regulatory expertise, brand development, and international logistics. Core ingredients include fermentation-derived products (Lactic Acid, HyaCare 50, Xanthan Gum, ERYLITE), botanical extracts, rheology modifiers (Pemulen series, Carbopol series), emollients (TEGOSOFT series), and various specialty chemicals sourced from manufacturer partners including Lubrizol, Evonik, Jungbunzlauer, Seppic, Sensient, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lactic Acid 80% Fermentation-derived organic acid distributed as a speciality ingredient with moisturising, exfoliating and antibacterial functionality for personal care and pharmaceutical formulations; COSMOS and ECOCERT certified.
• HyaCare 50 Fermentation-derived very low molecular weight (50 kDa) hyaluronic acid distributed for anti-aging skincare, offering increased skin permeation, wrinkle reduction and improved viscoelasticity; Halal certified.
• Arbalon R-50 cellulose liquid Pre-activated cellulose liquid distributed from Lubrizol that imparts yield stress and suspends insoluble particles in personal care formulations with minimal viscosity impact; eco-friendly fermentation-derived ingredient.
• ERYLITE F8030 FINE Natural fermentation-derived polyol distributed as an exceptional emollient for hair care, deodorants, colour cosmetics, oral care, skin care and shower/bath products.
• TEGOSOFT BC MB Renewable, RSPO-certified light non-oily liquid wax ester distributed for elegant textures, pigment performance and eco-conscious personal care formulations, with up to 70% CO2 footprint reduction via biocatalytic manufacturing.
• Pemulen TR-2 Polymeric emulsifier distributed for stable, mild, non-ethoxylated oil-in-water emulsions in personal care at low use levels.
• XANTHAN GUM FFCS-PC Fermentation-produced polysaccharide distributed as a rheology modifier for water-based cosmetic systems such as lotions, creams, shower gels, shampoos, shaving foams, face masks and make-up formulations.
• Hair Care Ingredients Portfolio Portfolio of hair care speciality ingredients including surfactants, conditioning agents, polymers, emollients, preservatives and actives sourced from manufacturers such as Lubrizol, Evonik and Seppic.
• Personal Care Ingredients Portfolio Portfolio of surfactants, emulsifiers, rheology modifiers and actives for personal care and cosmetics applications, distributed on behalf of industry leading manufacturers.
• Home, Industrial & Institutional Care Ingredients Portfolio Portfolio of surfactants, biocides, fragrances, rheology modifiers and solvent replacements for household, institutional and industrial cleaning products, distributed on behalf of industry leading manufacturers.
• Pharmaceutical & Nutraceutical Ingredients Portfolio Portfolio of APIs, tablet coatings, flavours and excipients for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations, distributed on behalf of industry leading manufacturers.
• Fermentation Concept Kit Formulation concept kit for personal care launched in August 2021, featuring fermentation-derived ingredients across multiple ready-to-adapt product formulations (Algae Pure Serum, Calming Scalp Yoghurt, Exfoliating Cleanser, Fromage Whip, Magic Tremella Elixir, Radiance Bubble Mousse) intended for personal care brand owners and formulators.
• Brand Development Service Bespoke brand development service supporting customers with idea generation, ingredient traceability, formulations, regulatory guidance, market trends and data, texture ideas, supply chain optimisation and innovation support across personal care and other speciality chemical end-markets.
• International Logistics Services Global supply chain services including logistics, bespoke repackaging into customised pack types and sizes, load consolidation into Less than Container Load (LCL) and Full Container Load (FCL) shipments, concept and formulation support, regulatory expertise and quality compliance for customers in over 90 countries.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 2M Group of CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSurfachem is a 2M Group company, part of the 2M Group of Companies which encompasses multiple businesses in the chemical distribution sector. The parent company provides strategic direction and group-level recognition including the King's Award for Excellence in International Trade.
• ChemsolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal agent representing Surfachem in Turkey.
• Garyvak for International TrademinorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal agent representing Surfachem in Hong Kong.
• Hans KoreaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal agent representing Surfachem in South Korea.
• Jordan ChemicalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal agent representing Surfachem in Jordan.
• Manali ChemicalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal agent representing Surfachem in India.
• PP ChemicalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal agent representing Surfachem in South Africa.
• Purechem Lanka (Pvt) LimitedminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal agent representing Surfachem in Sri Lanka.
• SaterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal agent representing Surfachem in Tunisia.
• Sung Wing Chemicals Ltd.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal agent representing Surfachem in Hong Kong and South China.
• AAKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes.
• EvonikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes, including HyaCare hyaluronic acid products.
• JungbunzlauercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes, including lactic acid, erythritol, and xanthan gum products.
• LubrizolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes, including Arbalon cellulose and algae oil products.
• SeppiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes.
• GivaudancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes, including fragrances.
• SolvaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes.
• StepancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes.
• P&G ChemicalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes.
• Shell ChemicalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Azelis: Global speciality chemicals and food ingredients distributor with deep Personal Care, Home Care and Pharma coverage; uses a similar principal-distributor model and serves formulators across multiple regions.
• IMCD: Dutch-headquartered global distributor of speciality chemicals and ingredients, with particularly strong overlap in Personal Care, HI&I, and Pharma/Nutraceutical applications — closely matching Surfachem's portfolio structure and supplier-distributor model.
• Harke Group: Mid-sized European specialty chemical distributor covering personal care, home care, pharma and industrial ingredients; comparable size and product mix to Surfachem.
• Barentz: Specialty distribution platform spanning pharma, personal care, food and industrial ingredients, with formulation and technical support — directly comparable value-added distribution concept.
• Biesterfeld: European-focused specialty chemical distributor (recently incorporating Nordmann) with strong Personal Care, HI&I and Industrial portfolios — same regional centre-of-gravity as Surfachem.
• Caldic: Specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor focused on Life Science and Industrial markets across Europe, Asia and the Americas — highly comparable end-markets and principal-distributor model to Surfachem.

Broad incumbents

• DKSH: Asia-headquartered market expansion services group with a significant speciality chemicals distribution business — overlapping customer base in personal care and HI&I, but broader geographic and service footprint.
• Univar Solutions: Large North American/European chemical and ingredients distributor with broad Life Sciences and Industrial portfolios — broader and less personal-care-specialised than Surfachem.
• BTC Europe (BASF): BASF's own European specialty chemical distribution arm — a competitor that benefits from parent-company supply and competes for the same formulators Surfachem serves.
• Brenntag: World's largest chemical distribution company; competes with Surfachem in surfactants, personal care and HI&I ingredients but at a vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsurfachem.com%2Flatest-insights%2Fblog%2F-new-fermentation-concept-kit
• Xtwitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsurfachem.com%2Flatest-insights%2Fblog%2F-new-fermentation-concept-kit&text=Fermentation+Concept+Kit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surfachem

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Surfachem