PLANTWORKS LIMITED

What PLANTWORKS LIMITED does

PlantWorks Limited is a UK-based manufacturer of biological plant care products, founded in 2000 and operating from research and production facilities at Kent Science Park in Sittingbourne, Kent. The company trades under the Empathy brand and is best known for its rootgrow range of mycorrhizal fungi inoculants, which attach to plant roots at the point of planting and form a secondary root system that enhances nutrient uptake, drought tolerance, and plant establishment. The product portfolio spans consumer-facing rootgrow powders and gels (60g to 1kg), the RGPro professional range in 2.5L to 10L formats for landscapers and cash & carry nurseries, the RGPro Horti line for commercial horticulture (vineyards, top fruit, bush fruit, blueberries, propagation), the Supreme Green lawn care range, After Plant biofertilisers tailored to specific plant categories, and house plant feeds. All products are manufactured and quality-controlled in-house.

The company's scientific base — a team of mycologists, bacteriologists, and soil scientists — supports specialised formulations including ericoid mycorrhizal fungi for acid-loving plants. The Royal Horticultural Society endorses rootgrow, providing third-party validation that anchors the brand in the UK consumer gardening market. PlantWorks sells through a multi-channel go-to-market: direct-to-consumer e-commerce (rootgrow.co.uk), national garden centre chains (Dobbies, Homebase, Waitrose Garden), specialist retailers (Crocus, Ashridge Trees, RHS Plants, Hedges Direct), Amazon UK, and professional wholesale channels. White-label/own-brand products are exported internationally, notably through a partnership with Biolan in Finland established in 2018. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time unit purchases at retail price points ranging from £2.70 for entry-level consumer packs to £200 for professional 10L formats, plus licensing/royalty income from international white-label partners.

Name

PLANTWORKS LIMITED

Legal name

PlantWorks Ltd

Website

https://rootgrow.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PlantWorks Limited, trading as Empathy, is a UK-based manufacturer of mycorrhizal fungi inoculants and biological plant nutrition products (rootgrow, RGPro, After Plant, Supreme Green) serving home gardeners, professional landscapers, and commercial horticulture through retail, e-commerce, and white-label channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biological Plant Nutrition & Mycorrhizal Inoculants

NAICS

Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (44424)

SIC

Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

Seed Inoculants & Biological Seed Enhancers (Rhizobia, Mycorrhizae, PGPR) (AFABAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biological Seed Treatments & Inoculants (within Biologicals) (AFABAEAL), Specialty Fertilizers for Horticulture & Controlled Environment (Greenhouse, Hydroponic, Nursery) (AFABACAL)

Keywords

• Mycorrhizal fungi inoculants
• Biological plant nutrition
• Root inoculants gardening
• Horticultural biofertilisers
• Professional landscaping supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Sittingbourne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consumer Product Sales: Sale of mycorrhizal fungi products (rootgrow 60g, 150g, 360g), gel formulations, and biological plant feeds to home gardeners through retail and direct channels.
2. Professional/B2B Product Sales: RGPro professional range (2.5L, 5L, 10L) sold to landscapers, garden designers, cash & carry nurseries, and commercial planting operations.
3. Own Brand/White Label: White-labeled Empathy products sold through partners internationally (e.g., Biolan in Finland).
4. Sponsorship & Community: Sponsorship activities including Tomato Club that generate brand awareness and community engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PlantWorks develops, manufactures and sells mycorrhizal fungi inoculants and biological plant nutrition products under the rootgrow™ and Empathy brands. The portfolio includes consumer packs (60g, 150g, 360g, gel formulations), the professional RGPro range (2.5L, 5L, 10L and Horti variants), biofertilisers, lawn feeds and seed mixes for home gardeners, landscapers, wholesale nurseries and commercial horticulture. All products are produced, quality-assured and packaged at the company's Kent Science Park facility and are endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Product overview

PlantWorks Limited (trading as Empathy) is a UK-based manufacturer of biological plant care products centred on mycorrhizal fungi and beneficial bacteria technology. The product portfolio includes the core rootgrow™ Mycorrhizal Fungi range (available in 60g, 150g, 360g, and gel formulations for bare-root plants) for home gardeners; rootgrow™ Professional (RGPro) products in 2.5L, 5L, and 10L sizes for professional landscapers and horticultural users; Supreme Green lawn care range (lawn feeds, seeds, and improvers with mycorrhizal fungi); After Plant biofertilisers (granular feeds for roses, ericaceous plants, trees, shrubs, acers, evergreens, olives, climbers, and hydrangeas); house plant feeds including pump-and-feed and biofertiliser products; and wild flower seed mixes. All products are manufactured at the Kent Science Park facility and are endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society. The company also offers own-brand/white-label products for international partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RGPro for Landscaping: Professional mycorrhizal fungi products packaged for professional users when large planting projects are undertaken, suitable for landscapers, garden designers, estate managers, and cash and carry nurseries.
• RGPro Horti
• Smart Rotations
• Biolan

Products and services

• rootgrow™ Mycorrhizal Fungi (60g) Granular mycorrhizal fungi product for flowering plants, trees, shrubs and edibles; smallest consumer pack size, treats up to 6 x 2L pots or a 10L pot, with one application supporting a plant for its lifetime. Targeted at home gardeners.
• rootgrow™ Mycorrhizal Fungi (150g) Mid-range granular mycorrhizal fungi pack for flowering plants, trees, shrubs and edibles, treating up to 8 x 2L pots or a 50L pot. For home gardeners.
• rootgrow™ Mycorrhizal Fungi (360g) Standard consumer mycorrhizal fungi pack for flowering plants, trees, shrubs and edibles, endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society.
• rootgrow™ Gel (360g) Mycorrhizal fungi gel for bare-root plants and trees, supplied with a dipping gel sachet for quick treatment. For home gardeners.
• rootgrow™ Gel (1kg) Larger mycorrhizal fungi gel pack for bare-root plant treatment at scale. Sits between consumer and small-professional use.
• rootgrow™ Ericoid (200g) Ericoid and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi specifically formulated for rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers, blueberries and other acid-loving ericaceous plants. For home gardeners.
• rootgrow™ Professional (RGPro) 2.5L Professional-grade mycorrhizal fungi for large-scale planting projects; includes gel powder for bare root plants and a 25ml measuring scoop; treats 250 x 2L pots or 275–825 bare root whips. Trade discounts available for professional customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Plants treated with rootgrow establish better with greater vigour, have better developed root systems and cope better with drought conditions (RHS endorsement basis)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Biolan (Finland)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2018International own brand partner in Finland. Biolan Rootgrow 150g unit launched in 2018 as first product under this partnership.
• Fryers RosescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRose specialist recommending and selling rootgrow products to rose growers. Part of research partner network for rose industry.
• Jones the RosecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRose specialist recommending rootgrow to address rose replant syndrome.
• Wyevale NurseriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor cash & carry nursery offering RGPro as recommended planting aid for diverse client base including landscapers and growers.
• Hopes Grove NurseriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist hedging nursery recommending rootgrow for hedging and bare root plant establishment.
• Hedges DirectcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist hedging retailer offering rootgrow products for hedging customer base.
• Ashridge TreescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist tree retailer recommending rootgrow for tree planting projects.
• Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRHS endorsement arrangement where RHS gardeners endorse rootgrow products. RHS Enterprises Limited licenses the RHS brand for use with rootgrow products.
• Life at No.27minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGardening therapy organization promoting mental health through gardening. PlantWorks sponsors the Plant a Bulb campaign and promotes the organization's mission.
• Tomato ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational sow and grow-along community inspiring first-time vegetable growers. PlantWorks is proud sponsor, providing growing tips and product support.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Plant Health Care plc: UK/AIM-listed company developing biological products that stimulate plant health, including mycorrhizal and other peptide-based treatments. Directly comparable as a UK-headquartered competitor in biological plant care technology, addressing overlapping professional and consumer horticulture customers.
• Mycorrhizal Applications: US-based manufacturer of mycorrhizal inoculant products sold under the MycoApply brand to professional and consumer markets. Most directly comparable to PlantWorks' rootgrow product line, competing in the same underlying biology category with similar end-users across horticulture, landscaping and home gardening channels.
• Lallemand Plant Care: Canadian bio-input manufacturer offering mycorrhizal inoculants, biostimulants and biocontrol products for horticulture, agriculture and turf. Highly comparable in product category (mycorrhizal inoculants) and target customer segments including professional growers and home garden retail.
• Hello Nature (formerly Italpollina): Italian producer of organic fertilisers, biostimulants and mycorrhizal inoculants sold globally to professional agriculture and horticulture customers. Directly comparable in biological input manufacturing and mycorrhizal technology, with overlapping professional grower and B2B customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Compo GmbH: German consumer garden care brand offering lawn fertilisers, plant foods and growing media across European retail channels. Comparable as a broad European incumbent in consumer horticulture inputs that competes for the same shelf space as PlantWorks' Empathy and rootgrow brands.
• Westland Horticulture: UK-headquartered major consumer garden care brand (owned by Edwardo Capital) selling lawn care, growing media, and plant foods through the same Dobbies, Homebase, B&Q and independent garden centre channels as PlantWorks. Comparable as a broader-incumbent UK consumer horticulture brand with overlapping shelf presence and product categories.
• Agrauxine (Lesaffre): French biological solutions subsidiary of Lesaffre Group, producing biostimulants and biocontrol products based on yeasts, bacteria and fungi. Comparable as a European biological input manufacturer addressing overlapping horticulture and agriculture customers with similar technology categories.
• Premier Tech: Canadian multinational manufacturing peat-based growing media, biological inoculants (PRO-MIX with MYCORRHIZAE) and horticultural inputs. Comparable as a much larger incumbent offering overlapping mycorrhizal products through consumer and professional channels, but operating a much broader portfolio.

Emerging players

• Ground Control (formerly Symborg): Spanish biological input company (acquired by Corteva) developing mycorrhizal-based products (MycoUp) for professional agriculture and horticulture. Comparable as a focused mycorrhizal competitor in the professional/B2B segment, now backed by a major agrochemical owner.
• Olmix Group: French-based animal and plant care company producing algae-based biostimulants and soil conditioners for agriculture and horticulture. Comparable as an emerging European player in biological plant care technology with overlapping professional grower customers and sustainability positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plantworkslimited

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 PLANTWORKS LIMITED