A BUSINESS which started in a household garage four decades ago has become a £50 million-turnover operation boasting three divisions.

Airedale Chemical, now based at Cross Hills, was founded in 1973 by the late Brian Chadwick at his Bradford home.

The business later expanded into a disused chapel before relocating first to Shipley and then to Cottingley, in 1984.

It moved to its current site at Skipton Road in 1992, since when it has bought and developed surrounding land and buildings – including the former Midland Mills – and now occupies around four acres.

The company also has a new £1.5 million filling plant and warehouse for its Airedale Solutions subsidiary in Skipton which supplies household and automotive cleaning products, for leading discount chains as well serving its own Glo range made at Cross Hills.

Chairman of the group is Brian's son Richard Chadwick, who joined the family enterprise as a 17-year-old school-leaver in 1981.

Also involved were brothers David and John Chadwick, both now retired, who also started as school-leavers on the shop floor, as did current sales director Chris Chadwick, Richard’s nephew.

Richard said: "The Cross Hills business was originally established on the old Kildwick Gas Company site as a separate operation from the textile dyestuffs business after we expanded into other chemical products.

"We have not stopped developing the site in the time we been here."

Airedale Chemical has invested more than £5 million in recent years on redeveloping and building premises, buying new plant and renewing and expanding its 20-strong delivery fleet.

Richard said the investment programme had put the business into a position where it could now focus on future growth without the need for extensive further spending.

He has led the business from a £9 million turnover to its current level and from 30 staff to around 150 employees.

But it has not always been plain sailing. In 1983 the downturn in textiles, along with a former senior employee leaving and taking away key customers, forced Airedale to shed around 20 staff and return to just five Chadwick family members.

“It was a tough time. We basically had to start again,” said Richard.

Chris Chadwick, 32, who joined the business 15 years ago, also gained broad experience in various departments before moving into sales in 2006.

"More sales in new markets is key to our future growth and we have expanded our sales and marketing operations to a 17-strong team," he said.

The group manufactures and distributes chemicals to more than 24 industries, including carpet manufacturing; food, beverage and dairy; engineering, personal care and healthcare, detergents and plastics.

One of its key products is phosphoric acid, which it supplies to 80 per cent of UK utility companies.

Airedale Chemical is also looking to become one of Europe’s 12 leading manufacturers of peracetic acid, which is replacing chlorine in a range of applications, including in the food and medical sectors.

The company recently acquired food ingredients and preservatives supplier Rigest, which now forms the group’s ingredients division.