Childs Farm reaches number 55 on The Thames Valley SME 100 Growth list 2021

The Business Magazine asked the CEOs and leaders of the Thames Valley SME 100 Growth listing, which celebrates the region’s high-growth small and medium-sized enterprises, to share their experience of managing a company in 2021. We asked Joanna Jensen, the founder and chairman of Childs Farm, the following three questions:

• What were your toughest challenges over the past year?
• What were your biggest wins?
• What are your wildest ambitions for the coming year?"

This year, Childs Farm reached number 55 on The Business Magazine’s annual Thames Valley SME 100 Growth list with an overall growth of 16.8% and an overall turnover of 17.4%, which is 2.5% higher than the previous year. Childs Farm is an award-winning British brand based in Basingstoke that uses naturally derived ingredients and essential oils to produce a range of mild, kind and delicious-smelling toiletries for newborns, babies and children. And with the launch of Farmologie by Childs Farm in 2020, adults too can benefit from a sensitive skin range that is specially designed for them.

What were your three toughest challenges over the past year?

Joanna Jensen: Brexit was definitely one of the hardest challenges for us. The demand before Brexit meant we were working overtime to supply our retailers and everything changed after. Another challenge was working independently of each other as working as a team is a challenge when every conversation has to be put in a diary. A third challenge for us was getting stock since COVID would decimate our suppliers supply chain at times, and we would have to really pull out some magic.

Your biggest win?

Joanna Jensen: Releasing our new adult range, Farmologie, in Boots in the middle of a pandemic.

Your three wildest ambitions for the coming year?

Joanna Jensen: See the UK’s vaccination programme completed, have a mask-less Christmas party with the whole team and go on holiday!

Childs Farm is included in the Thames Valley SME100 Growth index for the second consecutive year.  To qualify for the listing, businesses need to be based in the Thames Valley, have a turnover of no less than £1 million and no more than £20m, and have grown their turnover significantly in the past year.

The 2021 edition of the list is sponsored by law firm Herrington Carmichael, commercial property consultants Hicks Baker and corporate finance advisers Wilson Partners.

Supporting partners are Laithwaites and Lamborghini.

All Thames Valley SME 100 Growth members are now invited to enter the nominations to this year’s awards, which will recognise outstanding achievements in six categories.