Manchester-based agencies Madhouse Associates and Smoking Gun PR have scooped a major win in the shape of Verdo Renewables. A campaign of education with the aim to encouraging trial has been kicked off for the company, which manufactures wooden pellets and briquettes.

Verdo Renewables briquettes are easy and convenient fuel for open fires, log burners and multi-fuel stoves. The briquettes produce minimum ash, are easy to use, much cheaper than logs (proven to burn upto twice as long as logs) – low water content equals high heat output, easy to store and orders are delivered directly to the customers house. As a renewable energy source, briquettes are also a cleaner alternative to many options.

Verdo Renewables has two production plants in the UK; Andover in Hampshire and Grangemouth in Scotland – each plant has an annual production capacity of 55,000 tonnes of wood pellets and 15,000 tonnes of briquettes. All products are manufactured from locally sourced virgin timber, no additives of any kind are included within the wood pellet manufacturing process.

Richard Smith, managing director at Verdo Renewables added: “Madhouse’s strategic planning approach will enable us to develop a strong platform from which to grow in the UK. We were also impressed with Smoking Gun’s expertise in the homes and interiors market and how they work seamlessly to add skills and value to the wider marketing campaign.

“We feel the time is right now to really engage with the public about the importance and benefits of renewable fuels. We look forward to switching as many households as possible to cleaner fuels.”

Peter Craven, Madhouse Associates joint managing director, added: “There’s a great challenge ahead in educating the nation to the benefits of briquettes but a sizeable market to aim at. We’ve a client who’s trusting us to approach the brief in the right way and taking our recommendations from the off so we’re confident this will be a successful campaign.”

Rick Guttridge, managing director of Smoking Gun PR comments: “Renewables is a huge growth area due to various government schemes to try to encourage us to switch to cleaner sources of energy. So its an exciting area for us to enter and we look forward to spreading the word about Verdo Renewables.”