Fragrance powerhouse The JAQ Group invests in Randalstown to fuel US and EU growth

Pictured outside the newly expanded JAQ Group facilities in Randalstown is Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick, and Managing Director, Connor Martin.

An innovative Northern Ireland e-commerce fragrance company is creating dozens of new jobs after significantly expanding its manufacturing and logistics operations in Randalstown, County Antrim.

The JAQ Group has invested in a major extension of its facilities at the Craigstown Industrial Estate to meet rapidly growing international demand, particularly for its luxury Thomson Carter brand in the US and beyond.

Producing perfumes and skincare products across three successful brands – Thomson Carter, The Essence Vault and Liquid London – the company has built an additional facility and expanded into multiple units at Craigstown. The move has effectively doubled its production capacity and third-party logistics (3PL) operations.

Currently employing more than 230 people, the expansion will create 60 jobs immediately, with numbers expected to rise to 160 within the next 24 months at the Randalstown site alone.

The new manufacturing unit has been developed to support increased product development, manufacturing, packaging and shipping requirements as demand accelerates for the Thomson Carter range.

Civic visit marks milestone

The JAQ Group has expanded its operational facilities in Randalstown, County Antrim to support its increase in demand of the Thomson Carter brand into the US and beyond. Pictured alongside Managing Director, Connor Martin is Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick.

To mark the expansion, the Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick, visited the newly renovated premises to tour the facilities and meet members of The JAQ Group team.

Mayor Kirkpatrick said:

“The JAQ Group’s investment in its new modern manufacturing facilities demonstrates the strength and ambition of this local company as it further grows its product ranges.

“This expansion not only secures additional jobs for the local workforce but also enhances the area’s capacity for economic growth and innovation. It was great to see first-hand how the range of fragrances and products are developed and produced right here in Randalstown before being shipped around the world.

“Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is committed to supporting companies within our local area to ensure they operate in a prosperous and attractive business environment. We wish the team at The JAQ Group every success as they continue to develop their operations.”

From Ballymena start-up to global reach

Founded in 2019 by Ballymena entrepreneur Connor Martin, The JAQ Group began with The Essence Vault, which identified a gap in the market for high-quality, long-lasting fragrances inspired by popular high street brands at a more affordable price point.

The brand has since achieved extraordinary growth, attracting more than 2.5 million online customers and becoming a £100 million business. Its product range now spans full-strength eau de parfums, fragrance oils, diffusers, candles and skincare.

Following this success, Martin reinvested in the business, launching Thomson Carter and Liquid London, the latter of which was named TikTok’s Beauty Brand of the Year.

Now comprising three fragrance brands alongside a third-party logistics operation, The JAQ Group’s Craigstown location has become a strategic asset, benefiting from close proximity to the M2 motorway and major transit routes. This enables fast courier shipments across the UK and into Ireland and Europe.

‘Proudly made’ in Northern Ireland

Touring the newly expanded JAQ Group facilities in Randalstown is Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick, alongside Managing Director, Connor Martin. 

Commenting on the expansion, founder and CEO Connor Martin said:

“We were delighted to host Mayor Kirkpatrick and show her our newly expanded facilities and demonstrate how we produce our new luxury body washes and fragrances for the Thomson Carter brand. These products mark JAQ’s evolution from a pure fragrance seller into a broader personal care provider, offering our customers a complete aromatic experience.

“All of our products are proudly made at our facility. By leveraging our in-house lab and perfumery experts, we ensure these new offerings meet the high-quality standards that our customers expect from JAQ.

“As a local company, the additional space we now have at our premises ties in with the Council’s delivering for business plans, namely increasing operational capacity, safeguarding existing jobs, and creating new employment opportunities for the local community.

“With our larger premises we hope to harness international growth opportunities through our increased fulfilment capacity and streamlining shipping from Craigstown. We can fulfil EU orders more swiftly and cost-effectively than UK mainland-based competitors who face customs hurdles.

“In the past year, our export sales to the EU and US have surged +760% YoY, indicating massive untapped demand overseas. We have also built relationships with shipping partners to secure volume discounts, which improve our delivery economics in key markets.”

Ambitious future plans

Looking ahead, The JAQ Group has outlined planning for a bespoke new commercial development just outside Ballymena, comprising manufacturing, office and storage space. The proposed site would become the company’s principal facility, while the Randalstown operation would continue to run in parallel.

The new development is expected to create a further 300 jobs and represents a total investment of £11 million.

As it moves towards 2026, The JAQ Group aims to maintain its position as one of the UK’s fastest-growing online brands, with plans for further product diversification across beauty and personal care categories, alongside continued expansion into the US and EU markets.

Brand snapshot

• Thomson Carter: A premium fragrance and body care brand made locally in Northern Ireland, focused on luxury gifting and an elevated unboxing experience.

• The Essence Vault: Affordable fragrances inspired by high street favourites.

• Liquid London: Designed to mix with natural pheromones, creating a distinctive and individual scent.