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Little Soap Company
A Cotswolds-based natural soap company is branching out into new markets at home and abroad and installing new software to meet growing demand.
Read time: 2 mins Added: 11/02/25
Little Soap Company was founded in 2008 by Emma Heathcote-James to fill an untapped gap in the market - natural, pure soaps that are good for the skin and kind to the planet.
From hand-making soaps in her kitchen for selling to local farmers’ markets, the business quickly upscaled, using UK factories to make their four brands - Organic, Naturals, Eco Warrior and Little Beast – supplying into all the major UK retailers. Its products now cross-category, sitting in soap, haircare, shave, skincare, men’s and baby and child aisles, plus a line of pet shampoos too.
The team has never strayed from its eco-friendly roots, undergoing extensive research to ensure each product is free from harmful ingredients, limits needless plastic packaging and includes natural ingredients which are entirely vegan.
The company’s commitment to sustainability is a key contributor to its popularity, with its Eco Warrior range winning the Queen’s Award for enterprise innovation in 2022 and its flagship Shampoo Bars winning the UK’s Best Overall Shampoo Bar for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024 in The Independent’s Indie Awards.
Emma, her wife Sharon, and their team of ten staff sell millions of products a year, via every major UK retailer, including Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons, Asda, Amazon and Boots.
New markets abroad
Now, Little Soap Company is focused on the next phase of expansion, after securing a finance package from Lloyds.
The funding will support the installation of new software to enable greater automation of order fulfilment and forecasting, making it faster and easier to process retailer and online orders and better integrate with manufacturing as they grow both in the UK and into international markets.
The business is currently venturing into Taiwan, the Netherlands and Ireland, with the aim to also enter the US and other areas of Europe.
These markets are vital as areas where a growing number of consumers are discovering the benefits of sustainable, natural skin and body care.
The firm’s expansion will ensure it continues to achieve year-on-year growth while remaining profitable and 100% founder-owned.
Emma Heathcote-James, Founder of Little Soap Company, said: “I was inspired to start the Little Soap Company by my Gran, who built a collection of luxurious, kind-to-skin bar soaps while she travelled. However, when I searched for similar organically produced products at home, the options were few and far between, uncovering the need for a planet-friendly range.
“I’ve banked with Lloyds since I was a teenager so when searching for a bank for the business, it was essential to find one that understood the brand and knew how to work with us, something that was important to me as a neurodivergent business owner.”
Thankfully, Lloyds has been on board since the very beginning and their support has allowed us to grow our vision and push the boundaries of what’s possible. We can’t wait to see Little Soap Company products on shelves worldwide, sharing our passion for sustainability and eco-friendly living.
Emma Heathcote-James Founder, Little Soap CompanyLittle Soap Company is an incredible business with a truly inspiring story. Its passion for creating eco-friendly, sustainable products has set a new standard in the industry, and its dedication to making a positive environmental impact is something we’re proud to support. We’ve worked closely with Emma and her team, providing tailored financial solutions that embrace her unique approach as an entrepreneur. Seeing the business grow from a local startup to a successful national brand has been incredibly rewarding, and we’re excited to be part of their future success.
Jessica Fox Relationship Manager, Lloyds