A COMPANY making eco-friendly wood fuel products has announced plans to recruit at least 10 new retailers in Yorkshire this year.

The region has been identified as a priority area by Verdo Renewables, as part of plans to establish a network of 150 retailers across the UK in 2011.

As well as traditional domestic fuel suppliers, Verdo is looking to recruit hardware retailers, garden centres, farm shops and agricultural supply outlets to retail its wood pellets and briquettes.

The company said it was expanding its current UK network of 34 retailers in response to growing demand for its energy-efficient wood fuel products, which it manufactures from sustainable timber at plants in Andover, Hampshire, and Grangemouth, Scotland.

Verdo briquettes are used in open fires, wood burners and multi-fuel stoves. Verdo wood pellets are used in biomass heating systems, such as wood pellet boilers or pellet stoves.

Alistair McGlynn, UK sales manager for Verdo Renewables, said: “There has never been a better time for retailers to develop a presence in this marketplace.

“There is a growing demand for these carbon-neutral, energy-efficient products and this is set to rocket even further once the Government confirms its Renewable Heat Incentive.

“This will incentivise householders and small businesses to install a range of burners, boilers and stoves that will burn our products.”

Said Mr McGlynn: “We have been reviewing the implications of these developments very closely and we believe there will be significant demand for our products in the Yorkshire area, which is why we are very keen to sign up at least 10 new retailers there in the next 12 months.”

Verdo Renewables Ltd, formerly known as Energi Randers UK, is a fully owned subsidiary of Verdo Holding, the parent company of the Verdo Group.

The group is based in Randers, Denmark. Verdo recently celebrated 100 years of providing district heating to the city of Randers – making it one of the oldest heat and power plants in Denmark.

Now Verdo operates its own combined heat and power plant and electricity distribution grid. The company deals in energy, owns the water supply plant in Randers and provides internet and telephony services via a fibre-optic network.

The group has developed biomass technology for production of electricity and is one of the leading companies in the biofuel industry.