As its Whitman, UK, production site celebrates its 60th anniversary, The Estée Lauder Companies is positioning the country as its global hub for candles and home scent diffusers.
The group said it will bring the luxury candle and home fragrance manufacturing capabilities of Contract Candles into its UK operations. Contract Candles is a long-standing partner of the group, it is known for producing luxury candles and fragrance diffusers.
This operation includes assuming the lease of one of Contract Candles’ two UK facilities, welcoming approximately 50 employees into the organization over time, and adding new research and development and quality capabilities.
Following the integration, the UK will serve as the primary manufacturing base for candles across The Estée Lauder Companies’ prestige brand portfolio worldwide, including the Jo Malone London, Tom Ford and Aerin brands. “The investment enhances operational control and long-term resilience in a strategically important category while reinforcing the UK as a center of excellence for fragrance craftsmanship and manufacturing,” said the group in a statement.
Established in 1966, Whitman is a strategic part of The Estée Lauder Companies’ global manufacturing network, producing skin care and fragrance products for brands including Jo Malone London, Estée Lauder, Clinique, and La Mer. Today, the site produces more than 90 million units annually for distribution across the UK, Europe, and other select markets worldwide.
Speaking during Whitman’s 60th anniversary celebration, Roberto Canevari, Executive Vice President, Chief Value Chain Officer, The Estée Lauder Companies, said: “The UK plays a significant role in our global manufacturing network, and this investment in candle and home fragrance manufacturing reflects our continued commitment to British craftsmanship and innovation. Bringing these activities more closely into our manufacturing network will strengthen resilience and support our ability to continue delivering the exceptional quality and artistry that define our brands."
According to The Estée Lauder Companies, home fragrance continues to represent a growth opportunity across the group’s portfolio of fragrance brands, driven by expanding consumer interest in premium scent experiences and elevated home environments. This is particularly notable for Jo Malone London, a quintessentially British brand and the number-one luxury home fragrance brand in the UK across home scents and fragrance ancillaries. Six of the UK’s top 10 home fragrance franchises also belong to Jo Malone London. [1]
Since fiscal 2020, The Estée Lauder Companies has invested USD 72 million in its Whitman facility across automation, quality systems, sustainability initiatives, and advanced manufacturing capabilities, alongside apprenticeship and STEM outreach programs in partnership with local universities.
