Surfachem
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersClayton West, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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).
Surfachem firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Surfachem industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Surfachem is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Clayton West
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
Surfachem business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- 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
Surfachem product offering
Product offeringCore 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.
Companies that use Surfachem
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Surfachem technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Surfachem partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 2M Group of CompaniescoreSurfachem 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.
- ChemsolminorLocal agent representing Surfachem in Turkey.
- Garyvak for International TrademinorLocal agent representing Surfachem in Hong Kong.
- Hans KoreaminorLocal agent representing Surfachem in South Korea.
- Jordan ChemicalsminorLocal agent representing Surfachem in Jordan.
- Manali ChemicalsminorLocal agent representing Surfachem in India.
- PP ChemicalsminorLocal agent representing Surfachem in South Africa.
- Purechem Lanka (Pvt) LimitedminorLocal agent representing Surfachem in Sri Lanka.
- SaterminorLocal agent representing Surfachem in Tunisia.
- Sung Wing Chemicals Ltd.minorLocal agent representing Surfachem in Hong Kong and South China.
- AAKcoreManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes.
- EvonikcoreManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes, including HyaCare hyaluronic acid products.
- JungbunzlauercoreManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes, including lactic acid, erythritol, and xanthan gum products.
- LubrizolcoreManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes, including Arbalon cellulose and algae oil products.
- SeppiccoreManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes.
- GivaudancoreManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes, including fragrances.
- SolvaycoreManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes.
- StepancoreManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes.
- P&G ChemicalscoreManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes.
- Shell ChemicalscoreManufacturer whose speciality chemical ingredients Surfachem distributes.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Surfachem competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Surfachem social profiles
Digital presenceSurfachem compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance10 records
Surfachem financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Surfachem leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Surfachem funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Surfachem 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 Surfachem
What does Surfachem do?
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.
Is Surfachem a public or private company?
Surfachem is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Surfachem founded?
Surfachem was founded in 1981.
Where is Surfachem based?
Surfachem is headquartered in Clayton West, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Surfachem make money?
One revenue line is on record: chemical Ingredient Distribution.
Who are Surfachem's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Azelis, IMCD, Harke Group, Barentz, Biesterfeld and Caldic. Broad incumbents are DKSH, Univar Solutions, BTC Europe (BASF) and Brenntag.
Does Surfachem have an API?
No public API is recorded for Surfachem.
What industry is Surfachem in?
Surfachem's product category is Speciality Chemical Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEABAL, Specialty Surfactants & Performance Additives, with a secondary code of IMAEADAL, Surfactants & Detergent Intermediates (LAB/LAS, Ethoxylates, Sulfonates). Its NAICS code is 4246 and its SIC code is 5160.