About SHS International

SHS International, also known as SHS, specialises in Advanced Medical Nutrition for patients with needs in neo-natal or childhood cows' milk allergy, those with life long metabolic disorders, paediatric epilepsy, individuals with Crohn's, liver and kidney diseases.

SHS is a subsidiary of Nutricia, which is in the Danone Group

History:

SHS was founded in 1879, when Henry Ernest Scholefield met Richard Powell forming a partnership. HE Scholefield's first business premises were in St. Oswalds Street, Collyhurst, Manchester. R Powell had opened in Edge Hill, Liverpool. From the start they were both chemical manufacturers with the brewing industry as a major customer. Hydro-Sulphite of Lime was the main product they produced.

In 1889 Powell and Scholefield bought a property at 38 Queens Street, Liverpool which became the main site for SHS right up until 1986.

Not content in depending on their home trade, special efforts were directed towards the colonies. In 1889 Hydro-Sulphite of Lime was awarded the Gold Medal at the Melbourne Exhibition.

In 1910 Powell & Scholefield became a limited company. The original shareholders were all members of both families. The company prospered even during the troubled years of the great war (1914-18). In the early 30's business became difficult: growing unemployment, short time and cuts in wages forced most families to make economies, beer became a luxury! It was only a complete re-organisation of the board, injection of capital and the introduction of "Moabrite" an industrial cleaner that kept the company going.

In the late fifties Powell & Scholefield began developing processes to manufacture foodstuff free from the harmful phenylalanine for children suffering with PKU. Albumaid XP was one of the first phenylalanine free products ever made. This lead to the formation of a subsidiary company, Scientific Hospital Supplies Ltd in 1960.

Scientific Hospital Supplies continued to developed a range of innovative products including XP Analog and Neocate which were the first infant formulas that were amino acid-based. Maxamaid was the first flavoured phenylalanine free drink mix. Neocate 1+ was the first nutritionally complete, ready-to-drink amino acid-based medical food for children. Phlexy 10 was the first interchangeable system free from phenylalanine. In 1995 the FDA approved Neocate for use in infants up to one year of age. They have also produced the first flavourless free from phenylalanine product called Add-Ins.

In 1990 Valio Oy, via Valio, its UK holding company, acquired the SHS business from its existing family owners. Over the next four years Valio Oy played a non-interventionist role in the running of its UK business. During this period SHS won the Queens award for export in 1991 and 1993.

During 1994 Valio Oy embarked on a reorganization to change its status from a co-operative to a limited company in preparation for Finland joining the EC. The new Chief Executive Officer decided to sell all the international businesses that Valio Oy had acquired and return to its core dairy activities. In February 1994 SHS was put up for sale to the highest bidder.

On the 3rd February 1995 Nutricia acquired SHS. At the time, Nutricia was the non-trading holding company for NV Nutricia's UK activities.

SHS again won another Queen's award in 2003. This time it was the Queen's award for enterprise: the UK's most prestigious awards for business performance.

In 2005 SHS supported a year long trial with Birmingham Children's Hospital to test the theory that home delivery of dietary products in inherited metabolic disorders reduces prescription and dispensing errors. The study found that long term use of HDS for EDP in IMD is safer, effective and more reliable than conventional systems

History Summary:

1879 Richard Powell and Henry Scholefield form a partnership: chemical manufacturers with the brewing industry as a major customer.

1889 Powell & Scholefield purchase the manufacturing site at 38 Queens, Liverpool.

Hydro-Sulphite of lime is awarded the Gold Medal at the Great Melbourne Exhibition (Australia).

1910 Powell & Scholefield become a limited company.

1958 Powell & Scholefield began developing processes to manufacture foodstuff free from the harmful phenylalanine for children suffering with PKU. Albumaid XP was one of the first phenylalanine free products ever made.

1960 Scientific Hospital Supplies Ltd are formed as a subsidiary of Powell & Scholefield

1981 The first ever flavoured phenylalanine free product is produced: Maxamaid.

1984 The first ever infant formulas with amino acids are produced: XP Analog and Neocate.

1986 Powell & Scholefield and Scientific Hospital Supplies move to 100 Wavertree Boulevard, Liverpool.

1990 Valio Oy, via Valio, its UK holding company, acquired the SHS business from its existing family owners

1991 Powell & Scholefield become Scientific Hospital Supplies. Scientific Hospital Supplies win the Queen's award for export.

1993 Scientific Hospital Supplies win the Queen's award for export.

1995 Nutricia acquired the Scientific Hospital Supplies business.

1995 Scientific Hospital Supplies gain FDA approval for Infant Formula.

1995: Scientific Hospital Supplies produce the first liquid amino acid formula: Neocate 1+.

1996 Scientific Hospital Supplies produce the first interchangeable phenylalanine free system: Phlexy 10.

1997 Scientific Hospital Supplies become SHS International

2003 SHS win Queen's award for enterprise.

2004 SHS produce the first ready to drink phenylalanine free product: Easiphen.

2005: SHS support a yearlong trial with Birmingham Children's Hospital to test the theory that home delivery of dietary products in inherited metabolic disorders reduces prescription and dispensing errors.

2006 SHS produce the first flavourless phenylalanine free product: Add-ins.

2007 SHS International become part of the wider Danone Group.

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