Cwmbran Based Solar Buddies has achieved recognition in The Sunday Times 100, a prestigious list showcasing the UK’s fastest-growing private businesses.
Solar Buddies, founded by Kelli Aspland and Laura Waters, is a company based in Cwmbran, Torfaen, specialising in refillable sunscreen applicators designed for children. The company has experienced impressive growth, with sales reaching £7 million last year. This success has earned them a place on the Sunday Times 100 list, which identifies businesses with fast-growing sales over the past three years.
The founders’ ingenuity in creating a practical solution to a common problem – children struggling with sunscreen application at school due to “no-touch” policies – is highlighted in their appearance on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, where they secured £80,000 in funding from Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden. This funding further fueled their growth and expansion into national retailers like Boots, Tesco, Asda, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and WH Smith Travel, along with a presence in Target stores in the US.
It’s important to note that The Sunday Times 100 focuses on non-tech private companies, highlighting businesses that are driving economic growth and wealth creation outside of the technology sector.