CGI of proposed new JAQ Group production and distribution facility in Ballymena
JAQ Group founder and managing director, Connor Martin has revealed plans for a new £11million factory in Ballymena as its brand The Essence Vault continues to dominate the fragrance dupe market.
The JAQ Group is a fast-growing e-commerce holding company comprising three fragrance brands and a 3PL (third-party logistics) company, JAQ Fulfilment.
Ballymena native Connor Martin started out selling perfume in 2019 under the brand The Essence Vault. He has achieved extraordinary growth with The Essence Vault becoming a £100million brand over the last five years.
Location of new proposed JAQ Group facility in Ballymena
Buoyed on by his stunning success, Connor re-invested by creating two further fragrance brands:
• Thomson Carter - achieved £5m within 16 months of launch and selected as Rolls-Royce's Fragrance Choice;
• Liquid London - reached £2m in only 7 months and named as TikTok's Beauty Brand of the Year.
Currently the JAQ Group is based at Craigstown Industrial Estate outside Randalstown. It first occupied one of the units, and has since purchased the Industrial Estate and expanded into additional units.
The business success is reflected in a continually expanding workforce with 230, which increases to almost 300 around the Black Friday and pre-Christmas period.
CGI of proposed new JAQ Group production and distribution facility in Ballymena
Keeping supply at pace with demand has now made it an imperative to acquire a significantly larger production facility. JAQ Group has submitted planning application to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, now hoping to build a purpose-built facility for fragrance production at a site on Moorfields Road near the Larne Road roundabout.
This Ballymena site would become the Company's principal facility and would be used for making perfume and skincare products, while the Randalstown site would also continue to operate.
JAQ Group founder and managing director, Connor Martin
Speaking to Love Ballymena, Founder of The JAQ Group, Connor Martin, said:
“As our business continues to grow it’s important that we reinvest and develop our brands and our inspired fragrances. To fulfil those growth plans, The Jaq Group requires a purpose-built facility for production.
“The site we have proposed is off the Moorfields Road, Ballymena, where we hope to construct a new manufacturing facility, storage and office space.
“We realise that this is only the beginning of a process, but as a native of Ballymena I am keen to bring further investment and jobs to this area. This development involves significant economic benefits – 300 new jobs and an investment of £11m in the construction of this facility.”
It is expected that the planned development will provide significant economic benefits, creating around 300 new jobs.