Coming together of key wood fuel players boosts UK’s biomass supply chain

Forest Fuels has joined forces with Billington Bioenergy, under the ownership of AMP PLC, providing the UK with its most comprehensive wood fuel distribution network to date.

Both companies are well-respected in the industry and have built reputations for their high levels of expertise and customer service over more than a decade.

While the two brands will continue to operate independently, behind the scenes they will immediately combine their expertise and distribution resources.  This will enable them to offer unbeatable quality wood fuel supply across the whole of the UK.

Forest Fuels already enjoys a UK-wide distribution network, operating from its head-office in Okehampton and three regional offices across the UK. The combined businesses will have more than 4,000 customers,

“This is an exceptional development, not only for Forest Fuels but also for the wood fuel industry as a whole,” said Peter Solly, Forest Fuels managing director. “Customers from both companies will now have access to an even more comprehensive and efficient wood fuel supply chain.  We’ll have more local depots, additional numbers of specialised delivery vehicles, and an increased number of specialists on hand to deal with enquiries. We are delighted to welcome Billington’s 34 staff to the team.”

Forest Fuels and Billington Bioenergy is an excellent ‘geographical fit’, which offers much-improved economies of scale. The locations of their depots mean delivery vehicles will now have fewer miles to travel to reach customers.

Peter added: “Forest Fuels’ emphasis has always been on providing the highest quality of service to our customers, so it’s great to be combining with another company that has the same core values.  Billington has built a strong and very well-regarded business in the wood pellet market in England over the last ten years.

“Our strategy has always been to grow Forest Fuels into the leading wood fuel business in the UK, and this latest acquisition will enable us to realise this ambition.”

As well as supplying around 130,000 tonnes per year of wood pellet, Forest Fuels also supplies around 70,000 tonnes of woodchip.  Billington Bioenergy supplies around 40,000 tonnes of wood pellet.

Billington Bioenergy Managing Director Roger Pearson said: "This is wonderful news for Billington and for our customers.  Billington Bioenergy has always endeavoured to provide and deliver the very highest-quality wood fuel for our customers – by joining forces with Forest Fuels we are in an even stronger position to do this.”