Company Profile - Solent Group

Solent Group’s licensing landscape

Mel Beer, head of Licensing (Global) at pioneering FMCG company Solent Group, tells Toy World readers how the company fits into the wider licensing industry, from its expansive portfolio to what it offers retailers and licensors.

What is Solent Group and what space does it fill in the wider licensing industry?

At Solent Group, we’re more than just a manufacturer; we’re a partner that inspires, develops and delivers FMCG products across Health & Beauty, House & Home and Food & Snacks. Our ethos is clear: to create sustainable products that help people feel better, disrupt the market positively and bring real value to retailers and licensors alike.

Our licensed ranges specialise in design-led, sustainable categories including reusable bags for life, personal care and beauty, tissues and cleaning and laundry products. Alongside this, we also produce a wide portfolio of own-brand and white-label foods, snacks and wellbeing goods. What sets us apart is our approach to partnerships. We’re focused on building meaningful, growth-driven collaborations, ensuring every range is commercially strong, brand-aligned and resonates with consumers.

Tell us how has the company has developed into the business it is today?

Solent was founded in the early 1990s and has grown consistently over the past three decades. Today, we’re proud to be part of Humble Group, a dynamic FMCG collective of more than 47 companies. Humble’s mission is to transform FMCG by rethinking what everyday products can look like, how they’re made and the role they play in people’s lives. Through both organic innovation and smart acquisitions, the group has built a portfolio that reflects the future of consumer goods. Being part of Humble allows Solent to grow in step with those ambitions. We can innovate at pace, expand into new categories and share global expertise, all while staying true to our own values. It’s a journey we’re proud to be part of, and one that keeps us evolving alongside the group.

What is Solent Group’s realm of expertise and who is its customer base?

Our expertise spans FMCG across three main pillars: Health & Beauty, House & Home and Food & Snacks. We work with a wide network of over 250 global customers, from supermarkets and high street chains to online and specialist outlets. Because of that reach, we’ve developed the ability to tailor products for different retail channels and manage supply at scale. Whether it’s an everyday tissue pack or a premium licensed reusable bag, our aim is always the same: to deliver products shoppers love and retailers can trust to perform.

Tell us about your current licensing focus and how it features in the plans for 2026?

Our licensing strategy spans design-led brands like Anya Hindmarch and Zandra Rhodes, celebrity names including Christine McGuinness and Ferne McCann and evergreen literary classics such as Peter Rabbit, Paddington and The World of Eric Carle. Seasonal favourites remain a big part of our portfolio too, such as The Snowman, The Grinch and Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs. On the entertainment side, we work with global franchises from Warner Bros. Discovery and popular children’s brands including L.O.L. Surprise!, Little Tikes and Bing. Each licence plays a role in reaching different audiences with relevant, sustainable ranges.

Our No.1 licence right now is Cath Kidston, and building on the success of bags, tissues and cleaning cloths, we’re planning further product expansion in 2026. We’ll also be extending our Elf on the Shelf range into personal care, launching a fun and festive toiletries collection for Christmas 2026, something we’re particularly excited about. Looking further ahead, we’ll be adding complementary franchises across our core genres, while also expanding into the charitable sector for the first time. We’ve got some really exciting collaborations in the pipeline, so watch this space.

Why should licensors and retailers work with Solent Group? What do you bring to the table that is unique?

Solent Group brings together strategic vision, operational excellence and a clear sustainable ethos to “help people feel better in a sustainable way”. This isn’t just a tagline; it’s embedded in our partnerships, product development and operations. We offer a complete service package across product development and category growth planning, design and creative services, supply chain and logistics, technical expertise and trend research and marketing, which enables licensors and retailers to scale quickly and efficiently, with Solent managing the whole process.

We are a pioneer within the sustainable FMCG sector, focusing on eco-conscious products across all our categories that align strategically with consumer values and licensor/retailer goals for responsible sourcing and product innovation. With operations in the UK, China, South Africa, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Australia, Solent offers global market expertise and flexible manufacturing capabilities, which gives us the ability to respond to market shifts and trends quickly. Our reputation for reliability and innovation makes us a safe and strategic choice for licensors and retailers alike.