What Highland Fuels does

Highland Fuels Limited is a private, employee-owned Scottish fuel distributor founded in 1957 in Inverness and now operating across Scotland and northern England. The company runs eleven strategically located depots from Lerwick in Shetland to Campbeltown, supported by a fleet of over 45 road tankers and fifteen company-owned retail forecourts spanning JET-branded sites and Morrisons Daily convenience stores. It has roughly 250 employees and registered offices in Inverness (operational HQ), Aberdeen (registered office), Manchester (fuel card operations), and eleven further depot locations.

The product portfolio spans three pillars. The home-heating pillar delivers kerosene heating oil and related products to domestic customers, supported by a Tank Tracker telemetry subscription (£6.50/month for payment-plan customers) that auto-reorders at 35–40% tank capacity, monthly payment plans, oil buying groups, and a self-service online portal. The commercial pillar supplies industrial heating oil, white diesel, red diesel, AdBlue, lubricants, and marine gas oil to construction, agriculture, haulage, marine, industrial, and public-sector customers — the latter under approved Scottish, UK Government, and MOD framework agreements. The renewable fuels pillar, built around HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, up to 90% CO2 reduction) and ISCC EU-certified RMGO (80–90% GHG reduction), is the company's energy-transition bet, complemented by EV charging stations, Highland Electricity supply, and commercial fuel tanks with telemetry.

The revenue model combines transaction-based commodity fuel margins on bulk distribution and forecourt retail with subscription/recurring revenue from Tank Tracker, monthly payment plans, and fuel card accounts (ProFuel+ offering weekly fixed pricing across 3,330+ UK sites via UK Fuels, KeyFuels, Esso, Shell, BP, and other network partners). In June 2023 Highland Fuels transferred majority shares to the Highland Fuels Employee Trust, and in August 2025 it acquired Carnegie Fuels, both moves signalizing a strategy of consolidating regional fuel distribution under an employee-owned, multi-energy umbrella.

Name

Highland Fuels

Legal name

Highland Fuels Limited

Website

https://highlandfuels.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Highland Fuels is an employee-owned Scottish fuel distributor, founded 1957, supplying kerosene, diesel, marine gas oil, HVO, AdBlue, fuel cards, and forecourt retail across eleven depots and fifteen forecourts in Scotland and northern England, serving home heating, commercial, marine, agricultural, public-sector, and haulage customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fuel Distribution and Supply

NAICS

Fuel Dealers (45721), Fuel Dealers (4572), Gasoline Stations (4571)

SIC

Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171)

akta.pro primary industry

Branded Fuels Wholesaling & Jobber Distribution (EUALAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial & Fleet Fueling (Cardlock, On-Site Tanks, Bulk Delivery) (EUALAIAD), Non-Fuel Retail & Ancillary Forecourt Services (Car Wash, Auto Care, ATM/Lottery, Parcel Lockers) (EUALAIAJ)

Keywords

• Fuel distribution
• Heating oil supply
• Marine gas oil
• Commercial fuel cards
• Renewable diesel HVO

Headquarters

HQ city

Inverness

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Home Heating Fuel Sales: Sale of kerosene heating oil and related products to domestic customers across Scotland with various payment options including monthly direct debit plans, pay-as-you-go, and oil buying groups.
2. Commercial Fuel Sales: Supply of industrial heating oil, bulk diesel, red diesel, HVO, AdBlue and marine gas oil to commercial businesses across multiple sectors including construction, agriculture, haulage, marine, and industrial.
3. Fuel Card Services: ProFuel+ and other fuel card products offering UK-wide refueling access, with weekly fixed rate pricing and HMRC-compliant invoicing for fleet management.
4. Retail Forecourt Operations: Ownership and operation of 15 retail forecourts across Scotland, including JET-branded stations and Morrisons Daily convenience stores, generating revenue from fuel sales and retail merchandise.
5. Renewable Fuel Products: Sale of HVO and renewable diesel products with premium pricing for sustainability-conscious customers, including RFAS certification and RFD documentation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Highland Fuels distributes and delivers a comprehensive range of petroleum products across Scotland and the north of England, including kerosene heating oil for domestic use, white diesel, red diesel, petrol, AdBlue, marine gas oil (MGO), and renewable diesel (HVO) for commercial, industrial, agricultural, marine, and public sector customers. The company supports its fuel supply with complementary offerings such as fuel cards (ProFuel+) for fleet management, retail forecourts, commercial fuel tanks, and a Tank Tracker remote tank monitoring subscription service.

Product overview

Highland Fuels is a Scottish independent fuel distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of energy products and services. The core offerings span home heating (kerosene heating oil), commercial and industrial heating fuels, road fuels (white diesel, red diesel, petrol), and marine fuels (MGO, RMGO). Supporting services include fuel cards (ProFuel+ Card and standard Highland Fuels Fuel Cards) for fleet management, commercial fuel tanks with telemetry, and the Tank Tracker service for home oil level monitoring. The company has expanded into sustainable energy with HVO/renewable diesel, Future Fuels exploration, and EV charging stations. Additional services include oil buying groups, gift vouchers, and Highland Electricity (making them the only company in Scotland offering both heating oil and electricity). Recently acquired Carnegie Fuels and operates 11 depots across Scotland plus retail forecourts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Highland Electricity: A new electricity provider offering both heating oil and electricity, making Highland Fuels the only company in Scotland offering both services.

Products and services

• Kerosene Heating Oil (Home Heating Oil) Kerosene heating oil delivered across Scotland for home heating, available with competitive volume-based pricing, pay-as-you-go or interest-free monthly payment plans, and oil buying groups. Designed for domestic customers in off-grid rural areas.
• Industrial Heating Oil (IHO) Cost-effective blended heating oil for industrial and commercial businesses including distilleries, manufacturing plants, factories, energy generators, and food and drink manufacturers.
• White Diesel (DERV) White road diesel (DERV) for transport vehicles, power generation, and commercial businesses including petrol stations, hauliers, and agricultural operations.
• Red Diesel (Gasoil) Agricultural diesel for use in tractors, forklifts, combine harvesters, backup power generators, and other equipment eligible for reduced duty.
• Petrol (E10 and E5) UK-made E10 unleaded and E5 super unleaded petrol for cars, vans, motorbikes, mowers, generators, and outboard motors, delivered to forecourts.
• Marine Gas Oil (MGO) UK-sourced marine gas oil with high and low sulphur content for all vessel types including fishing boats, ferries, coastal supply vessels, oil rigs, and fish farms. Delivered ex-pipeline or by road to Scottish ports.
• AdBlue (Diesel Exhaust Fluid)

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of commercial customers likely to order again
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Zemo Partnership - Renewable Fuels Assurance SchemecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023RFAS approved supplier since September 2023, working with Zemo Partnership to provide certified evidence of HVO authenticity and environmental benefits for renewable fuel customers.
• UKIFDA (UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association)coreOthersMember of UKIFDA - the trade body for the liquid fuel industry, providing industry representation and regulatory engagement.
• PRA (Petroleum Review Association)coreOthersMember of PRA - industry association for fuel distribution and related activities.
• Tank Storage AssociationcoreOthersAssociate member of TSA - industry body for tank storage operators in the UK.
• Advice Direct ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManaging the Scottish Government's Emergency Heating Oil Scheme from April 2026, with Highland Fuels ensuring payments are correctly applied to customer accounts.
• UK FuelscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFuel card network partner providing access to UK Fuels network sites for Highland Fuels fuel card customers.
• KeyFuelscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFuel card network partner providing access to KeyFuels network sites for Highland Fuels fuel card customers.
• EssocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEsso fuel card network partner and approved partner for JET brand. Highland Fuels offers Esso-branded fuel cards with access to Esso sites nationwide.
• Morrisons DailycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership since 2021 to operate Morrisons Daily convenience stores at Highland Fuels forecourt locations including Darnley Mill and Ravenspark.
• JETcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved JET brand partner for independent service stations, offering JET-branded forecourt solutions for larger sites.
• LondisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail partner for forecourt convenience store branding and operations.
• Shell, BP, Texaco, MFG, Moto, Euro Garages, Welcome BreakcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFuel card acceptance at major fuel brand filling stations across UK through Profuel+ card network.
• Orkney Islands CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for HVO fleet conversion on Orkney - first fuel supplier on the island to adopt HVO.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Certas Energy: UK's largest independent fuel distributor (DCC subsidiary), supplying heating oil, diesel, and commercial fuels across the UK with depot network and forecourt operations. Directly comparable in business model and product range to Highland Fuels, though larger and UK-wide.
• Crown Oil: UK independent fuel and lubricants distributor offering heating oil, diesel, red diesel, and lubricants to commercial and domestic customers. Closely comparable to Highland Fuels in product mix and customer segments.
• Rix Petroleum: UK family-owned fuel distributor with depots across England and Wales, supplying heating oil, commercial fuels, and lubricants. Comparable regional fuel-distribution model to Highland Fuels, primarily in non-Scottish regions.
• WP Group: UK-based fuel and lubricants distributor (formerly Wincanton Petroleum) with depot network offering heating oil, commercial fuels, and AdBlue. Direct comparable to Highland Fuels in commercial fuel distribution model.
• WA Baxter & Sons: Scottish family-owned fuel distributor based in Aberdeenshire, supplying home heating oil, agricultural fuels, and commercial diesel across Scotland. Closest regional competitor to Highland Fuels in the Scottish domestic and agricultural segments.

Regional players

• W Donald & Son: Scottish fuel and lubricants supplier focused on the Highlands and Islands. Direct overlap with Highland Fuels in remote Scottish fuel delivery, though a smaller player.

Broad incumbents

• DCC Energy: Parent company of Certas Energy, the largest UK fuel distributor. A broad incumbent in the same fuel distribution space with diversified downstream energy operations across multiple geographies.
• Greenergy: UK's largest road fuel supplier with refinery operations, terminal network, and forecourt supply. Broad incumbent overlapping with Highland Fuels' wholesale and renewable fuel activities.

Emerging players

• UK Fuels: UK-wide fuel card network and fleet management provider. Overlaps with Highland Fuels' ProFuel+ Card business via its own card network and fleet services.

Others

• Morrisons (Wm Morrison Supermarkets): UK supermarket chain and Highland Fuels' convenience store partner at forecourts. Adjacent comparator via the Morrisons Daily partnership and shared forecourt retail strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Highland Fuels