History

Today, we are proud to be one of the leading multi-service chemical specialists in the UK, servicing over 25 industries with chemical solutions to thousands of customers in the UK, Europe and rest of world. Our story began in 1973 when our founder, Brian Chadwick, took an entrepreneurial leap, leaving his role as a Dye Salesman to start his own business trading dyes to Yorkshire’s celebrated textile industry. Following steady but continued growth during the textile boom, Airedale Chemical Company was born as a specialist dyestuff provider. In 1997, following various relocations due to growth, Airedale Chemical began its first stage of diversification having identified an opportunity to trade a chemical solution into a dye customer. With that, Hydrogen Peroxide was formerly added to the portfolio and Airedale Chemical’s proposition as a chemical supplier began. Three years later, Airedale Chemical’s second stage of diversification was introduced. Following the success of a new manufacturing contract the installation of the company’s first chemical reactor was initiated to produce Formaldehyde Resins. A single distribution contract agreed in 2008, changed the course of Airedale Chemical forever, and it went on to become the UK’s largest phosphoric acid distributor and more than £1m was invested in facilities and fleet. With the acquisition of ingredients company, Rigest, metal surface treatment specialist, Alutech, and chemical supplier McCann Chemicals, Airedale Chemical evolved into Airedale Group with five divisions – Functional, Innovation, Food and Beverage, Metal Surface Treatment, Life Science and Surfactants – each with a clear purpose to serve every corner of chemical-consuming industry. Our plans for expansion and diversification are ambitious and although we continue to grow, we also remain committed to delivering first-class customer service.

1973: Founder Brian Chadwick establishes Airedale Chemical, trading dyes from garage in Bradford.

1985: Yorkshire textile boom sees increased demand – 10 new staff hired

1993: Continued growth forces relocation to larger premises at Cottingley Mills, Bingley.

1995: Dye offering reaches its optimum with third and final move to Cross Hills site initiated. Originally a three-acre site, expansion has seen it grow to the four-care site we know today.

1997: First stage of diversification, having identified opportunity to trade a chemical solution into a dye customer, Airedale begins selling Hydrogen peroxide

2000: Following a new contract for Formaldehyde Resins, the first chemical reactor was installed on site.

2005: Brian Chadwick steps down and his son, Richard Chadwick leads the company as Managing Director

2008: Distribution framework with Chengxing, China transforms Airedale into UK’s largest supplier of phosphoric

2010: Following £1M CAPEX into Cross Hills site, additional manufactured products added to offering expanding UK position in chemicals

2015: Acquisition of Ingredients specialist, Rigest Trading Ltd begins offering expansion into food and beverage industry

2016: Richard Chadwick moves to Group Chairman with 3^rd generation nephew Chris Chadwick installed as Managing Director at just 33 years old

2017: Airedale Chemical becomes the only UK manufacturer of Peracetic Acid registered on Article 95 of the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR).

2020: The company expands in metal surface treatment products with the acquisition of Alutech Ltd, including over 25 years of specialist surface treatment knowledge.

2022: Airedale Chemical consolidates offering under the new name Airedale Group operating with five distinct divisions – Functional, Innovation, Food and Beverage, Metal Surface Treatment, Life Science and Surfactants

2023: McCann Chemicals becomes the third acquisition into company portfolio complimenting the focus around functional and food/beverage chemistry

Our plans for expansion and diversification are ambitious and although we continue to grow, we also remain committed to delivering first-class customer service.