There’s something special about seeing how household favourites are made. During a recent visit to PZ Cussons’ Agecroft manufacturing site, The Manufacturer went behind the scenes to learn more about the company’s latest investments, the products it manufactures and its ambitions for the future.
Steve Noble, Chief Supply Chain Officer and Executive Committee Member at PZ Cussons, outlined how the business is building on its established manufacturing capabilities while investing in new technologies to support long-term growth.
Manufacturing household brands at scale
Many of PZ Cussons’ best-known products are manufactured at the Agecroft site, including Carex hand wash, Original Source shower gel and Imperial Leather.
More recently, the company has also brought production of Childs Farm into the facility following its acquisition of the baby and children’s skincare brand.
For Steve, bringing the brand in-house represents an important step in strengthening manufacturing capability and supporting future growth, allowing the business to control production while supporting distribution from its own operations.
Looking ahead, the focus is on expanding the site’s capabilities so it can manufacture new products and adopt new technologies.
Investing in automation and new capabilities
The Agecroft facility is a highly automated site that has been operating for around 20 years, making ongoing investment essential to maintaining performance.
Steve explained that keeping automation systems, production lines and robotics up to date is critical to maintaining the efficiencies that enable the business to remain competitive.
Alongside maintaining existing assets, PZ Cussons is investing in new technologies, including digital printing, digital systems and enhanced manufacturing processes.
The company is also looking to broaden the site’s capabilities beyond producing thin liquid products by developing the ability to manufacture emulsions and other formulations, increasing the flexibility of its operations and opening opportunities for future product innovation.
Building on locally loved brands
Looking ahead over the next five years, Steve said the company’s strategy is centred on growing its portfolio of locally loved brands across its international markets.
While Carex is a flagship brand in the UK, PZ Cussons has different market-leading brands across its global business, including Stella in Nigeria, Cussons Baby in Indonesia and Morning Fresh in Australia.
Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, the business is focused on continuing to develop the brands that resonate most strongly with consumers in each region.
Three pillars for future success
Steve highlighted three key areas that underpin PZ Cussons’ growth strategy.
The first is investing in and strengthening its locally loved brands across its core markets.
The second is its route-to-market capability, with commercial teams that understand both customers and consumers, helping the business maintain a competitive advantage.
The third is manufacturing scale. Facilities such as the Agecroft site provide the production capacity and operational capability needed to compete effectively while supporting future expansion.
Combined, Steve believes these three pillars position PZ Cussons to continue growing in its key markets while investing in the next generation of manufacturing capability.
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