A 'sound' trading year for chemical company

DIRECTORS at Northumberland chemicals company Kilfrost say the business is in a strong position for growth after seeing pretax profits double on the back of rising revenues.

- COREENA FORD Business writer [e-mail]

The Haltwhistle firm started life as a deicer in 1933, helping to get aircraft off the ground in icy conditions. Over the years it has expanded its scope and now provides fluid for ground and rail sectors as well as many other industries including food and drink manufacturing.

Latest accounts for the year ended March 2025 highlight "an average winter" in which it saw a lift in turnover, from £15.4m to £21.1m, while operating profit increased from £3.75m to £6.14m.

Shareholder funds increased from £7.2m to £10.1m, and pretax profits rose from £2.99m to £6.2m. The overall profit for the year was £4.06m, up from £2.35m.

Within a report signed off by the board, directors said: "Kilfrost has entered its 93rd year as a chemical company. Its legacy in Aircraft Deicing Fluids (ADF) is the foundation which all new products are based on. As such it continues to lead the way in product development. Its Speciality Fluids (SFD) continues to make inroads into the market.