SanBrands’s fresh new idea to become bread winner

Nov 17 2009 by Chris Knox, The Journal

A COMPANY which designed a new kind of sink is hoping to expand after creating a new air freshener that wafts out the smell of fresh bread.

Newcastle-based SanBrands, which has built up a business selling its portable sinks for outdoor events, has been working on the air freshener for the past two years.

The company hopes to grow its turnover to £1m in the next three years wants to sell its new product to businesses and then homes over the next couple of years.

The product, to be called SanFresh, is a small recyclable ceramic rod which is infused with a range of natural oils and has powerful odour which can spread throughout a large office space.

It can be used in a range of places, from cars and toilets to retail outlets and offices, and will be available in a variety of scents, including apple orchard, baby powder and even hot crusty bread.

The firm, run by entrepreneurs Ash Zahid and Keith Gibson, has just received £16,000 of funding from Sunderland-based business support network RTC North, which it is currently using to design a dispenser for the product.

Mr Zahid said: “The product will appeal to those people that are taking an environmentally-friendly stance in the workplace. Some of the more unusual smells, such as the crusty bread will also appeal to commercial clients, particularly in the baking trade.

“It is the commercial market that we will be focussing on initially, before turning our attention to the domestic market as we build up our capacity.”

The pair now expects to create a six-string workforce by next year and is looking to set up its own manufacturing facility in the North East to begin making the sinks and fresheners on an industrial scale.

Martin Stephenson, corporate finance director at RMT, which worked with the pair to secure funding, said: “I have worked with Ash and Keith since they first established SanBrands two years ago, by offering business advice on financial issues ranging from funding to tax.

“The pair will also receive specialist advice on the design of their new product and it is great to see the business receive the support it deserves and I look forward to seeing SanFresh develop into an exciting new product for the marketplace.”