Company Milestones

Octavius Hunt Timeline: 1870 – 2019

– A Portrait of Achievement –

	1870	Company established by Mr. Octavius Hunt to manufacture matches (remained in Hunt family until 1912)
	1912	Company sold to Bryant and May
	1930	First UK company to manufacture sparklers.
	1970	Management buy-out and Octavius Hunt purchased the company from Bryant and May continuing to manufacture matches in the Bristol factory
	1970	Bought the smoke pesticide division from Pains Wessex, including the ‘Fumite™’ (trademark) brand, and began manufacturing smoke generators (Lindane, DDT)
	1972	Pirimor smoke generator developed to protect greenhouse crops for ICI (now Syngenta)
	1977	Actellic smoke generator developed to target grain pests in empty stores for ICI (now Syngenta)
	1979	Began manufacturing Permethrin smoke generators to combat both urban and agriculture pests
	1980	Began supplying smoke generators to Wellcome (now Bayer)
	1981	Appointed contract manufacturer for Clinafarm – Janssen (now Elanco)
	1990	Won the UK Ministry of Defence contract to supply waterproof/windproof matches
	1991	First, and still the only, UK manufacturer to produce industrial smoke pellets used to check for leaks in plumbing, heating and ventilation
	1992	Sparkler production ceased with move to importing pyrotechnic products. Over the years Octavius Hunt supplied many of the UK’s major firework companies and retail businesses such us: John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Calendar Club and Paperchase
	1993	Began collaboration with HortiChem (now Certis)
	1994	First fireworks manufacturer in the UK to be awarded ISO accreditation
	1995	Developed Cypermethrin smoke pellet as a low cost, broad spectrum pest control product for Latin American Market
	1996	Began exporting smoke generators with Middle East the first overseas market
	1996	Began collaboration with Rentokil – worldwide distribution of Fumite smoke generators
	1997	Began working with Bob Martin – developed “Flea Bomb” for domestic use
	1998	Management buy-out and Octavius Hunt once again privately owned family business
	1998	Won contract to supply matches to Australian Army
	1999	Supply smoke pellets to British Gas
	1999	25 millionth handmade match produced
	2000	Bought rights to Actellic brand; Began exporting to Australia & New Zealand
	2001	Began supplying smoke generators into European market; Appointed US distributor
	2003	Expanded distributor network to Asia
	2007	Cypermethrin smoke generators developed for larger treatment areas, initially for African market
	2008	BioFume natural smoke range launched and Octavius Hunt registered ‘BioFume™’ as their trade mark to protect their brand.
	2012	Fumite OPP disinfectant smoke generator developed
	2013	Launched company rebrand to build company brand identity and strengthen position as a leading pesticide and disinfectant smoke manufacturer
	2015	Match production ceased; Began supplying smoke generators into Russia
	2016	Pyrotechnic products such as sparklers no longer imported. Focus solely on smoke generators which continued to be manufactured in UK factory
	2018	Expanded distribution network in Middle East region
	2019	Focus on new product development