Solvitol, the County Durham-based manufacturer and supplier of aerosols and chemicals to the automotive, catering, industrial, household, manufacturing and janitorial sectors, has been acquired for £3.25m by a consortium which includes existing managing director Rod Godwin.

The new management team says the company’s previous status as a plc constrained its growth. However, as a private company, Solvitol will now adopt a more entrepreneurial hands-on approach.

Godwin, who becomes chief executive of the new company, says: “I am delighted to be able to take complete control of a business into which I have put many years of time and effort.

“I am sure this is the perfect scenario to allow Solvitol to grow its business in all the sectors it serves and put considerable financial support and investment into the various key brands.”

The company will also be on the acquisition trail as it seeks to add to brands such as Add-it, Add-it Extra and Nilco.

As part of the new company structure, a number of ‘super distributors’ will control teams of sales agents in various parts of the country.

So far Auto Northern in Scotland, RM Car Care covering Yorkshire and Lancashire, and Tomac in Ireland have signed up to be super distributors.

Solvitol’s southern England operation will be confirmed shortly.