Poth Hille

What Poth Hille does

Poth Hille & Co Ltd is a UK-headquartered, family-owned specialty wax manufacturer and supplier founded in 1875 and incorporated in 1904. The company operates from Rainham, Essex (relocated from Stratford in 2008), where it runs two manufacturing units and a distribution facility on the Easter Park industrial estate. Its product portfolio spans 22+ wax categories including natural waxes (beeswax in multiple grades, candelilla, carnauba, soy, rapeseed, sunflower, rice bran, sumac), petroleum-derived waxes (paraffin, microcrystalline, ozokerite/ceresine), and specialty products for histology (Hista-Flex™, Histo-Par®), candle making (NatureWax®), natural jelly alternatives (Vegaleen), and sports (surfboard wax). Proprietary manufacturing techniques include a triple-filtering process for histology waxes to ensure purity and consistent carbon distribution.

The company generates revenue primarily through B2B sales of wax products across pharmaceuticals (GSK, Novartis, Pfizer), cosmetics (Oriflame, Lush, Avon), specialty chemicals (Akzonobel, Croda), automotive (Federal Mogul), food ingredients (AAK), dental (Peri-Dent), and histology/laboratory (Sakura) end markets. Pricing is quote-based with flexible minimum order quantities supporting both small-scale and large industrial buyers; revenue is recognized on a unit-pricing pay-as-you-go basis. Distribution is handled directly via website, phone, and email with regular international shipping to over 50 countries. The go-to-market combines direct sales, content marketing (blog, MailChimp newsletter), LinkedIn presence, and attendance at 10+ global trade shows annually (NYSCC, Histologica, in-cosmetics Asia, Medica, Africa Health). Additional revenue comes from OEM/private-label services for histology and sports wax categories, where Poth Hille manages concept design through manufacturing and delivery under customer brands.

Poth Hille positions itself as Britain's oldest wax supplier and the UK's Number One Natural Wax Supplier, differentiating through 150+ years of heritage, 50+ years of specialized histology wax expertise, certified organic sourcing (UK Soil Association, COSMOS), and full-spectrum OEM capabilities. No external investors, funding rounds, or public listings were identified; the company has remained privately held and family-controlled throughout its history.

Name

Poth Hille

Legal name

Poth Hille & Co Ltd

Website

https://poth-hille.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1875

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Poth Hille is a UK family-owned specialty wax manufacturer (since 1875) supplying natural, synthetic, and blended waxes plus OEM/private-label services to enterprise customers across pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, histology, automotive, food, and candle-making verticals globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rainham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wax and Wax Blends Manufacturing and Supply: Poth Hille manufactures and supplies a wide range of waxes and wax blends. Their core business is the manufacture and supply of waxes with an emphasis on natural wax. They sell to businesses across pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and technical industries. Revenue is generated through product sales with pricing based on quantities ordered, with flexible MOQs to support both small-scale and large-scale industrial customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Poth Hille manufactures and supplies a comprehensive range of natural and synthetic waxes and custom wax blends for industrial, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, histology, candle-making, automotive, sports and specialty applications. The company offers in-house production supplemented by global sourcing, plus end-to-end OEM/private-label services covering concept design, formulation, manufacturing, filling, packing and delivery. Revenue is generated through direct product sales with flexible MOQs and international shipping.

Product overview

Poth Hille is a specialist wax manufacturer and supplier offering a comprehensive portfolio of natural and synthetic waxes for diverse industrial and consumer applications. The product lineup centers on core wax categories including Beeswax (in 10+ grades from filtered to organic certified), vegetable waxes (Candelilla, Carnauba, Soy, Rapeseed, Sunflower, Rice Bran, Sumac), petroleum-derived waxes (Paraffin, Microcrystalline, Ozokerite), and specialty products (Depilatory, Histology/Tissue Embedding, Surfboard, Natural Jelly). Key brands include Hista-Flex™ for histology, Histo-Par® for tissue embedding, NatureWax® for candle making, Vegaleen for natural jellies, and Lauren E for depilatory wax. The company operates a two-tier model: direct product sales across 22+ wax types and variants, plus OEM/Private Label services (Own Label for sports wax, Private Label for histology) that handle concept design through manufacturing, filling, packing and delivery. Applications span automotive care, candle making, cosmetics/personal care, depilation, food/confectionery, histology, industrial, leather care, pharmaceuticals, sports/leisure, and wood care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beeswax Natural wax produced by honey bees, available in multiple grades including White Beeswax BP (PHC 1000), Light Yellow Beeswax BP (PHC 3000), Natural Yellow Beeswax BP (PHC 4000), White Refined Beeswax (PHC 1001), Light Yellow Refined Beeswax (PHC 1002), Filtered Yellow Beeswax (PHC 0413) and Grade A Filtered Yellow Beeswax (PHC 0431). Used in cosmetics, candles, and wood care applications.
• Organic Beeswax Certified organic beeswax (UK Soil Association and COSMOS certified) sourced from Zambia (Miombo Forest) and Australia (New South Wales), available as White Organic Beeswax (PHC 2000) and Yellow Organic Beeswax (PHC 5000) in pellet form.
• Candelilla Wax Plant-based vegan wax derived from the Euphorbia Cerifera plant in Northern Mexico. Used in cosmetics for its film-forming properties and skin benefits.
• Carnauba Wax Natural vegan wax from Brazilian carnauba palm trees, available as Carnauba Wax Type 3. Known as the 'queen of waxes' with high melt point; used in cosmetics, automotive care, and food applications.
• Ozokerite & Ceresine Wax Blend of paraffin, microcrystalline and synthetic waxes with excellent oil retention and superior gelling properties. Used in cosmetic formulations for thickening and waterproofing.
• Depilatory Wax (Lauren E) Hair removal wax in stripless peelable pellet form with a range of colours, essential oils and fragrances, sold under the Lauren E brand. Used by beauty salons, spas and depilatory wax product manufacturers.
• Hista-Flex™ Histology Wax Proprietary histology wax brand made in the UK, offering the widest range of histology waxes available on the market under one brand. Includes Tissue Embedding Wax that undergoes a triple-filtering process for purity, supplied to pathology laboratories and histology product distributors.
• Histo-Par® Paraffin Wax Proprietary specialized paraffin wax for tissue embedding and histology applications. Known for purity, narrow carbon distribution and crystalline structure; undergoes a triple-filtering process. Used by pathology laboratories.
• Tissue Embedding Wax Paraffin-based wax for preserving and preparing tissue samples for microscopic examination, also known as histology wax. Undergoes triple-filtering process for purity; supplied to pathology and medical research laboratories.
• Microcrystalline Wax Versatile wax with fine crystal structure used in industrial applications, automotive care and cosmetic formulations.
• Montan Wax Natural wax extracted from lignite/brown coal, used in industrial applications including car care and surface coatings.
• Natural Jelly (Vegaleen) 100% natural alternatives to petroleum jelly under the Vegaleen brand. Free from mineral or synthetic ingredients, GMO free, vegan-friendly, palm free and not tested on animals. Used by cosmetics and personal care manufacturers.
• NatureWax® Candle Wax Proprietary brand of natural vegetable waxes for candle making, including NatureWax C3R (PHC 3440) rapeseed wax and NatureWax Elite 600 Coconut & Rapeseed Container Wax (PHC3449). Designed for clean burn, excellent scent throw and glass adhesion.
• Natural Wax Substitutes Vegan and synthetic alternatives to natural waxes including synthetic beeswax alternatives (PHC 8622, PHC 8602) and cost-effective carnauba substitutes. Used by cosmetic and personal care manufacturers.
• Paraffin Wax Versatile petroleum-derived wax with low melting point and high heat retention. Available in multiple grades for beauty treatments, physiotherapy, fruit coating, cheese preservation, arts and crafts, and dentistry.
• Rapeseed Wax Plant-based wax from European rapeseed, available as Rapeseed Container Wax (PHC3425) with great green credentials, superb scent throw and glossy finish. Used for container candles and pillar candles.
• Refined Sumac Wax Wax extracted from the protective skin of Rhus Verniciflua tree varieties. Features low melt point creating soft, butter-like consistency without crystallisation issues. Used in cosmetics.
• Rice Bran Wax Vegetable wax derived from rice bran oil, available in Refined and Crude grades. Used in cosmetics, food coatings, confectionery, printing inks, and electrical insulation. Contains squalene for skin hydration.
• Soy Wax Natural vegetable wax made from soybean oil. Popular for candle making with slow steady burn and excellent fragrance retention; also used in moisturisers, lip products and massage bars.
• Sunflower Wax Wax extracted from sunflower oil with high oil binding capacity. Used in cosmetics for high gloss finish and thermal stability; Candle Wax Sunflower (PHC3458) is supplied for container candles.
• Surfboard Wax Wax for surfboard traction available in various grades including cold water grade, supplied to sports equipment manufacturers and retailers for surfers' grip and stick on surfboards.
• Vegan Wax Blends (Green Focus) Vegan wax blends under the Green Focus brand that replace beeswax in applications such as food wraps, dental floss, and hair creams. Used by food, dental and personal care manufacturers.
• Paraffin & Stearin Blend (PHC 8561) Balanced paraffin and stearin formula designed for strong fragrance release and excellent colour retention, producing a durable opaque finish for container and pillar candles.
• Candle Container Wax (PHC 8545) Versatile container candle wax with creamy appearance, stable burn, excellent fragrance retention and user-friendly melting and pouring characteristics.
• Candle Wax Sunflower (PHC3458) High-performance plant-based wax from renewable sunflower oil for smooth professional container candles with excellent glass adhesion, clean burn and reliable fragrance throw.
• Vegetable Container Wax (PHC 3456) High-quality plant-based wax for container candles with excellent glass adhesion, smooth surface finish and strong fragrance throw; free from paraffin and additives.
• NatureWax C3R (PHC 3440) Premium 100% natural vegetable wax from sustainably sourced European rapeseed, known for clean burn and excellent scent throw for container candles and tealights.
• Dip & Carve Wax (PHC 8537) Specially formulated wax for traditional candle dipping and carving techniques, offering excellent flexibility and strong colour uptake for decorative hand-crafted candles.
• Candle Gel Wax (TW3088) Premium transparent gel for creating decorative candles, ideal for embedding objects, layered designs or crystal-clear finish with long-lasting burn.
• Naturewax Elite 600 (PHC3449) Premium coconut and rapeseed blend for luxury container candles, offering exceptional fragrance throw, smooth tops and excellent glass adhesion with a clean consistent burn.
• Rapeseed Container Wax (PHC3425) 100% rapeseed wax from sustainably grown European rapeseed for container candles, providing excellent glass adhesion, smooth appearance, consistent clean burn, fully biodegradable and vegan friendly.
• Own Label Service – Sports OEM service for sports wax products including surf wax, ski wax and curb wax, allowing customers to sell these products under their own brand with material planning, concept design, manufacturing, filling, packing and delivery.
• Private Label Histology Service OEM service for histology wax enabling customers to sell products under their own branding with a range of packaging options, covering material planning, concept design, manufacturing, filling, packing, testing and delivery.
• OEM Custom Wax Formulation & Manufacturing End-to-end OEM services covering material planning, concept design, custom wax formulation, manufacturing, filling, packing, testing and delivery with custom packaging options, offered to industrial, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, histology, candle and sports brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150 years in business since 1875
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IGI International Group: Global fully-integrated wax supplier operating across specialty wax, candle, cosmetics, and packaging with own-label/private-label services. Comparable scope (proprietary brands + multi-vertical distribution) and similar B2B focus.
• British Wax Refining Company: UK-based wax refiner and blender producing custom wax blends for cosmetics, candles, and industrial applications. Most direct UK geographic comparable in scale and product mix to Poth Hille.
• Koster Keunen: Specialist in natural and beeswax-based ingredients serving cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceutical, and candle customers. Closely parallels Poth Hille's natural-wax premium positioning and Beeswax/Histology/OEM portfolio.
• Strahl & Pitsch: US-based specialty wax refiner and supplier offering natural and synthetic waxes for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, candles, and industrial applications. Highly comparable to Poth Hille in product breadth, B2B specialty focus, and long-standing heritage in the wax trade.
• Paramelt: Dutch-headquartered global manufacturer of wax blends and adhesives serving packaging, cosmetics, and industrial markets. Comparable as a European specialty wax compounder with custom formulation and OEM/private-label capabilities.
• Kerax Limited: UK-based wax manufacturer producing paraffin, microcrystalline, and specialty waxes for industrial, candle, and polishes markets. Direct UK domestic competitor with overlapping customer bases in candle and industrial segments.

Regional players

• Euroceras: Polish producer of paraffin, microcrystalline, and specialty waxes for candle, cosmetics, and industrial markets across Central and Eastern Europe. Comparable wax product portfolio but operating in a different regional corridor than Poth Hille's UK base.

Broad incumbents

• H&R (Hansen & Rosenthal) Wax Division: German specialty oils and waxes manufacturer with a dedicated wax division producing paraffin, microcrystalline, and synthetic waxes. Comparable in industrial wax fundamentals but operates as part of a broader specialty oils portfolio.
• Cargill Industrial Specialties: Global agricultural-commodity major supplying plant-based oils, fats, and specialty ingredients to food, cosmetic, and industrial customers. Overlaps with Poth Hille's vegetable-wax/raw-material sourcing and competes on adjacent natural ingredients.
• Sasol Wax: One of the world's largest producers of paraffin and synthetic waxes via the Fischer-Tropsch process, serving candles, packaging, and industrial markets. Competes with Poth Hille's paraffin offering at much greater scale as a broad commodity incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/poth-hille-&-co-ltd
• Xx.com/hillepoth
• Facebookfacebook.com/Pothhille

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Poth Hille