The White Sea & Baltic Company Ltd

Key Facts
	Established	1880
	Business Type	Independent, Specialty Chemical Distributor
	Revenue	€10-25M ($10-25M)
	Employees	13
	Enterprize Size	Small
	Location	United Kingdom
	CEO/Director	Alan Carradice
	Ownership	100% New Willington Ltd (Robinow family)

Market Areas

Definitions:

1. Net Sales

Revenues reported are on a Net Sales basis. This may include income earnt from commission sales but commission revenues* are generally excluded, whenever possible. Revenues from distribution activities not related to 3rd party chemical distribution are also excluded. Chemical production is included as long as this does not exceed 25% of total sales and complements the company's core chemical distribution activities e.g. mixing, blending, formulating etc. Chemical production based on ‘reactive chemistry’ (i.e. the production of new chemicals or substances from raw materials) is discounted.

2. Distributor Type

Commodity – majority of sales from liquids (bulk, repackaged) but can also be solids or gases
Buy chemicals in bulk (often sourcing from multiple suppliers) then process, blend and repack to customer requirements – selling either under their 'own-label' or their suppliers. Their operations are geared around breaking up bulk quantities and maximising logistical efficiencies. Typically they have a high investment in tank storage, drumming, blending and formulation capabilities.

Specialty chemical distributors – majority of sales from factory packaged products (dry and/or liquid)
Purchase pre-packaged (bag or drum) and sell on a technical basis, usually under a manufacturer's own brand. Operations are built on sales and marketing skills as opposed to logistical know-how. They rarely have any involvement with the breaking of bulk quantities and generally outsource their logistical requirements. Specialty chemical distributors usually operate under an exclusive, long-term supply agreement with their suppliers or Principals.

Full-range or full-line chemical distributors – balanced product portfolio, both specialty and commodity
This is a term sometimes used to describe the very small number of distributors globally who cover both the commodity and speciality distribution segments

Polymer distributors – majority of sales from supply of commodity or engineering polymers
Purchase pre-packaged (bag or bulk) plastics and elastomers and sell on a technical basis, usually under a manufacturer's own brand. Operations are built on sales and marketing skills – as opposed to logistical know-how. They are sometimes involved with the breaking of bulk quantities and compounding activities. Polymer distributors can also includes be trading companies with no long-term affilation to specific suppliers.

Chemical traders – involved with the sale of commodities, specialties and polymers
Chemicals traders can be involved with the purchase and resale of both commodities and specialities and buy from the producer or supplier offering them the best deal at the time. Traders sometimes act like as distributors (in the sense of taking title to goods and stocking) and sometimes they act more like agents. Often, there is no close, long-term relationship with the manufacturer and many rely on their suppliers’ logistics to serve their customers.

3. Enterprize Size

EU classification of company size. Micro: 1-9 employees; Small 10-49 employees; Medium: 50-249 employees and an annual turnover not exceeding 50M euro; Large: >250 employees or a turnover >50M euro. The declared size is ultimately determined by largest chemical distribution holding company or parent, if applicable.