What Butagaz does

Butagaz is a privately held French multi-energy supplier founded in 1932, headquartered in Levallois-Perret, and operating as a société par actions simplifiée (SAS) with €195,225,000 in share capital under the Groupe Butagaz corporate umbrella. The company's core business is the distribution of LPG—propane and butane—to residential households and professional/business customers across France, delivered through two principal product lines: bulk propane tanks (aerial or buried, with automatic or on-demand delivery and bundled maintenance) and a full range of gas cylinders (Viseo with integrated gas-level indicator, Le Cube compact cylinders, and standard 13kg/35kg formats). Its distribution infrastructure comprises more than 16,000 retail points of sale spanning supermarkets, hardware stores, garden centers, gas stations, and proximity retailers, supplemented by Butagaz 24/24 automated vending machines enabling 24/7 self-service cylinder purchases.

Revenue mechanics are hybrid. Cylinder sales operate on a consignment model: customers pay a refundable deposit (€35 for 13kg butane, €39 for Viseo) on first purchase and exchange empties for full bottles, with distributors setting their own gas-content retail prices. Bulk propane generates recurring subscription revenue (€9.50/month, maintenance included) plus variable consumption charges at approximately €1,399/tonne for multi-year contracts. The company has extended into adjacent products including ISCC-PLUS certified biopropane at 20% or 100% renewable concentration, a carbon offset program for tank customers, 100% renewable electricity resold via Ekwateur partnership, and ecosystem tie-ups with Homeserve (home assistance), GridPocket (smart metering), and MCZ (heating equipment). The go-to-market combines a professional field sales force for bulk tank accounts, a multi-channel retail reseller network for cylinders, and a digital self-service layer through the Espace Client portal and online tools.

The company operates within mature and increasingly competitive French energy market dynamics, with high customer satisfaction (92% residential, 93-94% professional per BVA 2025 surveys on samples of 1,750 and 1,000 respectively) and brand leadership as 'Marque préférée des Français' in the gas cylinder and tank category. Subsidiaries include maButagaz.fr (promotional and recycling platform) and Wewise. The company is led by CEO Emmanuel Trivin, with no public listing, recent funding rounds, or institutional private equity backing disclosed in the available sources.

Name

Butagaz

Legal name

BUTAGAZ

Website

http://www.butagaz.fr/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Butagaz is a French multi-energy supplier founded in 1932, distributing propane and butane via bulk tanks and cylinders to residential and professional customers across France through 16,000+ retail points and automated vending machines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LPG distribution (propane and butane)

NAICS

Natural Gas Distribution (22121)

SIC

Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171)

akta.pro primary industry

NGL/LPG Distribution / Local Delivery Pipelines (Terminal-to-Market) (TLAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Gas Distribution Operations (Day-to-Day Field & System Operations) (EUAJAAAB)

Keywords

• LPG distribution
• Propane gas supply
• Butane cylinders
• Bulk propane tanks
• Renewable biopropane

Headquarters

HQ city

Levallois-perret

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Gas Cylinder Sales (Butane/Propane): Sale of LPG cylinders through consignment model. Customers pay a deposit (consigne) when first purchasing a bottle, then exchange empty bottles for full ones, paying only for the gas content on subsequent purchases. Distributors set their own retail gas prices.
2. Bulk Propane Tank Services: Rental and maintenance of propane tanks (aerial or buried) with automatic or on-demand gas delivery. Services include tank installation, regular inspections, maintenance, and gas supply. Maintenance is included in all bulk propane offers.
3. Electricity Distribution (via Ekwateur): Resale of 100% renewable electricity to existing gas customers through partnership with Ekwateur energy supplier.
4. Cylinder Consignment Deposits: Refundable security deposits collected on first cylinder purchase (e.g., 35€ for 13kg, 39€ for Viseo). Deposits are recovered when cylinders are returned.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Butagaz distributes liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) — propane and butane — in France through two main channels: refillable gas cylinders (ranging from compact 6kg Cube units to 35kg high-capacity bottles, including the proprietary Viseo cylinder with an integrated gas level indicator) sold via a 16,000+ point retail network, and bulk propane tanks (aerial or buried) installed at residential and professional sites with scheduled or on-demand delivery, installation, and maintenance services. The company also resells 100% renewable electricity via a partnership with Ekwateur, and offers renewable biopropane (20% or 100%) and carbon offset programs.

Product overview

Butagaz is a multi-energy provider offering a portfolio of gas products for residential and professional customers. The core offerings include bulk propane stored in underground or aerial tanks for whole-home heating, cooking, and hot water, alongside a range of bottled gas cylinders in various sizes (Viseo, Cube, 13kg, 35kg) for butane and propane applications. Electricity is offered in partnership with Ekwateur. Additional services include carbon offset programs, biopropane renewable gas options, and digital platforms for 24/7 bottle access and online management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Viseo: Innovative gas cylinder with built-in gas level indicator, designed for indoor cooking use.
• Le Cube
• Le Cube butane
• Le Cube propane
• Butagaz 13kg
• Butagaz 35kg

Products and services

• Gaz en citerne (Bulk propane tank gas) Bulk propane storage and supply service for residential and professional customers. Includes tank rental (aerial or buried), installation, automatic or on-demand delivery, safety inspections, and maintenance bundled into a monthly subscription with separate gas consumption charges. Available with optional 20% or 100% biopropane.
• Viseo Butane 10kg cylinder 10 kg butane gas cylinder with transparent windows showing remaining gas level, ergonomic handles, triple-safety valve, and quick-connect clip system. Sold under consignment deposit (€39.00) through the retailer network.
• Le Cube Butane Compact 6 kg butane gas cylinder designed for indoor and outdoor use, including portable heating and cooking applications.
• Le Cube Propane Compact propane gas cylinder for outdoor applications including BBQ, patio heaters, and DIY equipment.
• 13 kg Butane cylinder Standard 13 kg butane gas cylinder for indoor cooking, cookers, and indoor heating applications. Consignment deposit of €35 TTC per bottle.
• 13 kg Propane cylinder Standard 13 kg propane gas cylinder for outdoor applications including BBQ, patio heaters, water heaters, and DIY tools.
• 35 kg Propane cylinder Large 35 kg propane gas cylinder for high-demand applications including water heaters and multiple appliance connections.
• Butagaz electricity offer via Ekwateur 100% renewable electricity supply offered in partnership with Ekwateur for residential customers, billed monthly and marketed as a switch-from-gas offering.
• Butagaz 24/24 automatic vending Automated vending machines enabling 24/7 self-service cylinder purchases with on-site or online payment, accessible via butagaz24.butagaz.fr.
• Balance anti-panne (Smart cylinder scale) Connected smart scale placed under gas cylinders that monitors weight and transmits data to a smartphone app, alerting the user before the cylinder runs empty.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% customer satisfaction among residential customers (BVA survey 2025, 1,750 respondents)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EkwateurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for electricity supply offering 100% renewable electricity to Butagaz gas customers. Butagaz electricity offer is branded and delivered through Ekwateur, allowing cross-selling to existing gas customer base.
• AudirepminorOthersMarket research partner within Groupe Butagaz ecosystem.
• BVAminorOthersCustomer satisfaction survey partner conducting annual satisfaction studies.
• CampingazminorOthersPartner within Groupe Butagaz network.
• HomeserveminorOthersHome assistance services partner.
• Groupe La PosteminorOthersService partner within Groupe Butagaz ecosystem.
• GridPocketminorOthersSmart energy solutions partner.
• OpinionWayminorOthersOpinion polling and survey partner.
• MCZminorOthersHeating solutions partner (stoves and heating systems).
• ISCCcoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational sustainability certification organization providing ISCC-PLUS certification for biopropane traceability and mass balance system, ensuring compliance with EU renewable energy sustainability criteria.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Primagaz: Major French LPG distributor offering propane and butane cylinders and bulk tanks to residential and professional customers. Directly competes with Butagaz across the same French off-grid heating and cooking customer base.
• Antargaz: French LPG distributor (subsidiary of SHV Energy) providing propane and butane in cylinders and bulk tanks. Competes head-to-head with Butagaz in both retail cylinder and residential/professional tank segments across France.
• Vitogaz France: French LPG distributor focused on propane tank solutions for residential and small-business customers. Operates the same core business model as Butagaz's bulk propane tank line, with overlapping geographies and customer segments.
• Calor Gas: UK LPG distributor (SHV Energy subsidiary) supplying propane and butane cylinders and bulk tanks to off-grid homes and businesses. Highly comparable business model and customer use cases to Butagaz's tank and cylinder offerings.
• AmeriGas Propane: Largest US retail propane distributor, selling propane to residential, commercial, and industrial customers via bulk tanks and cylinders. Comparable in scale, product portfolio, and recurring-delivery model to Butagaz's tank business.
• Suburban Propane Partners: US-based propane distributor serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers with cylinder exchange and bulk delivery. Closely mirrors Butagaz's combination of cylinder retail and tank subscription services.
• Ferrellgas Partners: US propane distribution company offering cylinder exchange and bulk tank services across residential and commercial segments. Operates an analogous dual cylinder-and-tank model with similar subscription and delivery mechanics.

Broad incumbents

• SHV Energy: Global LPG distribution group and parent of Primagaz, Antargaz, Calor Gas, and other national LPG operators. Comparable as the international LPG incumbent that competes with Butagaz through its French subsidiaries.
• UGI Corporation: US multi-energy holding company (parent of AmeriGas) operating in propane distribution, midstream gas, and electric generation. Comparable as a broad incumbent with LPG distribution as a core vertical alongside adjacent energy activities.
• Repsol: Spanish integrated energy major with a dedicated LPG (butano/propano) distribution business supplying Spanish households and businesses. Overlaps with Butagaz in bottled LPG retail and bulk propane logistics across a comparable European regulatory environment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/butagaz_societe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ButagazOfficiel
• Facebookfacebook.com/bobbutagaz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/butagaz
• Instagraminstagram.com/butagazofficiel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Butagaz