Cotswold Gold oil baron bids to boost turnover

Cotswold Gold is now operating around the clock from its farm base in Broadway, Worcestershire, as it bids to tap into what its owners believe is growing consumer appreciation for rapeseed oil.

The business was started a year ago by 23-year-olds Charlie Beldam and Lawrence Millett-Satow, and sold £60,000 of products in its first 12 months, achieving a profit despite significant capital expenditure on machinery. This year’s target is £110,000.

Garden centre listings​

Beldam told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “We’ve sold 30,000 to 40,000 bottles so far and there are some pretty big contracts in the pipeline. We’re looking at 80,000 bottles this year across a range of sizes.​

“I’m not going for the supermarkets but I’ve just started getting into garden centres. We’ve got into Wyevale, which has 130 stores around the country. We’ve gone through delis and farm shops as well, because that’s where the demographic I’m aiming for likes to shop.”​

The Cotswold Gold range was extended at Christmas to include infusions such as garlic, lemon, chilli, cumin and dill, and has won endorsements from celebrity chefs including Raymond Blanc and Martin Blunos.

Locks in health properties​

Beldam sources rapeseed from his parents’ farm and said the business only accounts for 1% of total production, with the remainder sold for biodiesel or to packaged food producers.

The seeds are cold pressed, which avoids the creation of bitter tannins and locks in health properties such as omega 3, 6 and 9, Beldam added.

There are thought to be around 100 rapeseed oil producers in the UK, which between them account for around 2% of the edible oil market. But sales are growing at around 25% a year as consumer awareness increases, according to Cotswold Gold estimates.