Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £112.0m in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Joint ventures and new facilities drive growth in cooking oil recycling
- Industry-leading company Olleco's strategic move to open two advanced processing plants in March 2025, located on the Thames estuary and in Liverpool, enhances its ability to recycle used cooking oil efficiently. These facilities are pivotal in supporting the UK's net-zero targets by optimising the conversion of waste oil into valuable biofuels, including aviation fuel. This upgrade reflects the industry's commitment to align with national decarbonisation goals.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
An expanding food-service sector will boost revenue
- The expanding food-service sector in the UK is poised to significantly boost the cooking oil recycling industry. With the full-service restaurant industry projected to increase revenue at an annual rate of 3.5% – reaching £28 billion by 2029-30 – and the takeaway and fast-food sector expected to climb at a 2.9% annual rate to £26.6 billion in the same period, demand for sustainable waste management solutions, including used cooking oil (UCO) recycling, is set to rise.
Biggest companies in the Cooking Oil Recycling in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue (£m)
2026 |
|---|---|---|
Brocklesby Ltd | 25.5 | |
Olleco | 17.4 | |
WasteCare Ltd | 3.4 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including UCO collected from other food-service establishments, UCO collected from pubs, bars and nightclubs and UCO collected from restaurants and fast-food outlets. UCO collected from other food-service establishments is the largest segment of the Cooking Oil Recycling in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Rising health consciousness, lowering the volume of UCO collected from food manufacturers
- Food manufacturers use cooking oil to produce fried foods like chicken and fish products, as well as chips and snacks like crisps. This segment also includes the collection of tallow from abattoirs and renders.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry collect used cooking oil (yellow and brown grease) from restaurants and other food-service establishments for sale to downstream markets, which process this grease into biodiesel, animal feed and other products. Companies also process and refine the used cooking oil they collect before selling it to downstream markets.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom include UCO collected from other food-service establishments, UCO collected from pubs, bars and nightclubs, UCO collected from restaurants and fast-food outlets and UCO collected from food manufacturers.Companies
Companies covered in the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom include Brocklesby Ltd, Olleco and WasteCare Ltd.Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom include agribusiness, biodiesel, feedstock and used cooking oil (uco).Industry Code
SIC 38.11 - Cooking Oil Recycling in the UK
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The UK's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate has boosted revenue. This regulation requires airlines to incorporate at least 2% of SAF into their fuel mix, bolstering dema...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
UCO from food manufacturers is the predominant industry product. A surge in the number of restaurants and fast-food outlets has boosted demand from this segment.
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Cooking oil recycling companies in London benefit from the ever-growing food sector. Companies that set up shop in London reap the benefits of the most expansive food-service...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
New regulations bring new business. Thanks to tightening regulations that legally require all establishments to recycle UCO, smaller companies looking to enter the market are...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Brocklesby Ltd’s revenue dipped in 2023. Despite sales volumes growing on the previous year, the revenue reduction was largely a result of softening market prices.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Brocklesby Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Olleco's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of WasteCare Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Brocklesby Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Olleco, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for WasteCare Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Demand from restaurants shapes the industry. The higher demand from full-service and takeaway and fast-food restaurants is, the more UCO industry companies can collect.
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Regulations have propped up profitability. The legally binding regulation that mandates UCO recycling has provided a consistent demand for cooking oil recycling.
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2019-2023)
- Coverage Ratios (2019-2023)
- Leverage Ratios (2019-2023)
- Operating Ratios (2019-2023)
- Assets (2019-2023)
- Liabilities (2019-2023)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
The market size of the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom is £112.0m in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 115 businesses in the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.5 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom?
The Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom?
The Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 3.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom are Brocklesby Ltd, Olleco and WasteCare Ltd
What does the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom include?
UCO collected from other food-service establishments and UCO collected from pubs, bars and nightclubs are part of the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom is Brocklesby Ltd.
How competitive is the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Cooking Oil Recycling industry in the United Kingdom.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
View all industries in United Kingdom
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
