About Aqualabs
Plant science, made in Sheffield
Aqua Laboratories is a Sheffield-based UK plant fertiliser company. We develop and manufacture specialist fertilisers for our own brands, and partner with other businesses on formulation, technical support and contract manufacturing.
Since 2013
Our story
Aqualabs began in 2013 with three directors who knew the hydroponics industry from different sides. Justin brought close to 20 years of retail experience, working with growers and understanding what made a product worth buying—and buying again. Simon and Dr Callie Seaman brought the formulation and manufacturing expertise, having spent several years developing and producing the VitaLink range.
Together, we saw an opportunity to create something of our own. We knew where Shogun Fertilisers would sit in the market and had the technical knowledge to give growers a reason to choose it. Technologies such as AquaZen® and SmartZEN® became part of that thinking: finding ways to build more performance into the nutrients themselves.
We also recognised that some excellent products were already out there. Silver Bullet’s silver-stabilised hydrogen peroxide technology impressed us, and we became its distributor, bringing it to growers through our trade network.
Since then, we’ve helped other businesses develop their own products through formulation, white-label supply, contract manufacturing and fertiliser compliance support. Some come to us with a finished formula; others bring an idea and work with us to develop it.
Our latest range, JOY Fertilisers, takes that experience into the home, with plant-specific feeds for houseplant enthusiasts. The audience is different, but we still start with the same questions: what does the grower need, and how can we make a product that answers it?
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2013Aqualabs founded
Shogun is born, built on years of formulating for the hydroponics market.
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2015Silver Bullet
Silver-stabilised hydrogen peroxide for clean, disease-free growing systems.
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2016Growing our reach
Establishing Shogun Fertilisers across the UK, Europe and USA.
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2022Partner brands
White-label formulation, contract manufacturing and compliance for other brands.
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2026JOY Fertilisers
Plant-specific feeds for the home hobby market.
Science that sells
We combine current plant science with practical commercial experience. We know how to develop a formulation, what growers need, and how a product can stand out in a crowded market.
Current plant science
Research-led formulations. We can back up our claims with real research.
Commercial know-how
We run our own brands, so we know what sells, what works and, most importantly, what's profitable.
A real point of difference
Every product is built to give growers a reason to choose it. We don't churn out generic liquids: we find an angle and keep working until we can make a better product.
Our brands
Three ranges, each built to fill a gap in its market.
Formulated and made in the UK
From our base in Sheffield, we formulate and manufacture in the UK. That means we control quality from the first trial batch to the finished bottle.
No long waits for finished products to ship in from overseas, and a door you can come and knock on if you need to.
Our team
Simon Spinks
Technical Director
Justin Henry
Managing Director
Work with us
Whether you want to stock our brands, distribute them, develop a new formulation or manufacture your own product, we would like to hear from you. An idea is enough to start the conversation.