FACE and body paint maker Snazaroo has stopped its downwards profit trend of recent times and recorded a 173 per cent increase in the past financial year.

The Minehead firm, based in Rainbow Way, reported in rounded figures a £219,000 net profit for the year ended December 31, 2025, which was up from £80,000 in the previous year.

However, Snazaroo, part of global creative brand Colart Group Holdings, in turn owned by Sweden’s Lindéngruppen AB, had made £326,000 in 2023.

Latest returns showed turnover dropped from £3.124 million in 2024 to £2.798 million in 2025, with gross profit increasing marginally by £27,000, and operating profit jumping from 2024’s £184,000 to £283,000.

UK turnover fell by £216,000 to £977,000 in 2025, and in European markets by £359,000 to £767,000.

But sales in the rest of the world saw a leap of £249,000 to reach £1.054 million.

The company employed 31 staff, a reduction of five on the previous year, which saw a saving on wages of £148,000.

Snazaroo director Jonathan Spight said Colart expected to see a good level of sales recovery in 2026 compared to the past two years.

Mr Spight said last year was impacted by US President Donald Trump’s introduction of tariffs for goods entering America.

He said the bankruptcy and closure of some key distributors and retailers, as well as continued uncertainty across all markets and geographies also affected the firm’s trading.

Mr Spight said: “Colart has strong positions with leading retailers, notably in the US, and will benefit from their investment in, and expansion of, the art materials category in store.

“Sales out of Colart brands from retailers to consumers saw growth in 2025 ahead of the total category sales.

“Overall, the market continues to see a heightened level of price discounting and promotional activity, which, combined with an increase in retailer private label, with some retailers full delisting branded offerings, is resulting in a squeeze on retailer, brand owner, and manufacturer margins.”

Mr Spight said Colart was continuing to invest in its brands, in many cases ahead of its competitors, with strong communication campaigns being activated across its major markets and in partnership with its major retailers.

He said: “Consumers are also looking more and more to have a direct relationship with brands.

“As such, Colart will continue its investment in reaching and engaging new and existing consumers via communication across its suite of digital channels, as well as through expansion of the reach of its brand e-commerce websites, available for each of the major brands and in a number of languages.”

Mr Spight said direct-to-consumer sales in Colart’s main markets were expected to see strong growth in 2026, following a ‘very high level of growth’ in 2025, although it remained a relatively small part of the company’s overall total sales.

He said no changes were expected to be made in the foreseeable future to the company’s principal activities of manufacturing and distributing cosmetic-based face and body paints.