In an industry where longevity is rare and family ownership even rarer, Barton Petroleum stands out as a business built on continuity, trust and a deep understanding of the communities it serves.
Led by Managing Director Clive Morin alongside third-generation directors Lawrence Burton and Oliver Burton, the company is combining decades of heritage with a modern, forward-looking vision for fuel distribution across the Midlands, South East and beyond.
Founded in Wellingborough in 1972 by Lawrence and Oliver’s grandfather, Donald Burton, and led for many years by their father Richard, Barton Petroleum has always prided itself on being a service-driven business with family values at its core.
Today, with five depots across the UK, including in Oakley near Bedford, supplying domestic heating oil, as well as commercial fuel to a broad base of customers across construction, manufacturing, transport and agriculture, the company has grown significantly. Yet its culture remains unmistakably personal.
Oliver joined the business at just 16, working through customer service and sales account management before becoming Commercial Director.
“Starting young gave me an appreciation for every part of the business,” he said. “From speaking to customers to supporting our drivers, you learn what really matters.”
Lawrence gained experience elsewhere in the sector before joining Barton in 2021.
“I wanted to do my own thing first, but the pull towards Barton was strong,” he said. “I came in wanting to bring fresh thinking, but with huge respect for what my father and grandfather built.”
Alongside his role at Barton Petroleum, Lawrence also manages FW Abbott, Barton’s sister company, a DAF service dealership and autocentre in Kettering.
Having outgrown its long-standing Wellingborough head office, Barton Petroleum recently purchased a site directly across the road. The new facility includes additional office space, a transport yard and a significant commercial workshop, which FW Abbott will operate.
The workshop will serve Barton’s tanker fleet as well as HGV operators in the area and the move reflects Barton Petroleum’s steady, measured approach to expansion, focusing on service rather than chasing bigger volumes, driving sustainable growth.
The responsibility of supplying essential fuel
For Barton Petroleum, delivering fuel isn’t simply a logistical operation, it’s a responsibility. Many of the homes the company supplies sit off the gas grid, often in isolated rural areas where heating oil is essential through the winter months.
“When temperatures drop, people rely on us,” said Oliver. “It’s crucial that customers get the supply they need, when they need it. We’ve never scrimped on service, reliability is everything in this industry.”
The same applies to commercial customers, whose operations often depend on timely fuel delivery.
“If we can’t respond when called upon, the consequences can be catastrophic for a business,” added Lawrence, “and we don’t take that lightly.”
This ethos is why Barton Petroleum maintains a strong driver base, invests heavily in training, and keeps spare delivery vehicles ready for emergencies. December is always a busy month for Barton Petroleum. Even if it’s not particularly cold outside, people don’t want a chilly home on Christmas Day.
“We do close on the Bank Holidays” said Oliver, “so we encourage people to check their tanks and order early. Some people always leave it to the last minute, so we’re often working late in the run up to the Christmas period.
“And we like to reward our staff at Christmas, to thank them for their hard work. One thing we’ve always done is give everyone a turkey. We’ve got them from the same local farmer for years. Last year we gave out 110!”
A fossil fuel business in a changing world
As a long-established distributor of fossil fuels, Barton Petroleum is navigating an era of intense pressure toward electrification.
“There’s a strong push to electrify everything,” said Oliver. “But for many of our customers, that’s not easy.”
For many rural homes, replacing an oil heating system with a heat pump is either prohibitively expensive or unsuited to the property’s construction, and industries such as civil engineering and agriculture rely on liquid fuels to function.
“We believe liquid fuel has a long-term future,” said Lawrence, “but that may mean the fuel itself needs to change.” Barton Petroleum is one of the industry’s early adopters of HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil). The company has been a Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme accredited supplier since 2023, and commercial HVO usage has grown steadily.
“HVO can reduce net CO₂ emissions by up to 90% and works in existing systems, so it’s a real solution, available today,” explained Oliver.
Yet regulatory barriers remain. A government scheme funded by the industry subsidises HVO for transport, but domestic heating is excluded, despite being technically compatible with existing boilers.
“That’s the frustrating part,” said Lawrence. “Domestic customers also want to decarbonise without replacing their entire heating system.”
Barton Petroleum has met with local MPs and actively supports UKIFDA’s efforts to get domestic HVO approved. “The fuel exists,” said Oliver. “We just need policymakers to let people use it.”
Looking ahead with confidence
Predicting the energy landscape years ahead is difficult, but Barton Petroleum is confident liquid energy will continue to play a key role, whether through renewable fuels like HVO or eventually hydrogen. Their long-term thinking is shaped by independence.
“There’s been a lot of consolidation in our industry,” said Lawrence. “Few family-owned operators remain. Being independent makes us agile but also allows us to think in decades, not quarters.” With a strong leadership team, expanded infrastructure and a clear low-carbon strategy, the company is well placed for what comes next.
“What we’re building isn’t just for us,” added Lawrence. “My son is two years old, and if he wants to join the business one day that’s ”fantastic. But for now, our responsibility is to our staff and customers. Oliver agreed: “We’re custodians of a business that matters to a lot of people. The challenge is big, but so is the opportunity.”
In a fast-changing energy landscape, Barton Petroleum remains rooted in heritage and ready for the future.
To find out more call 01933 224317 or 01234 822488 or visit the Barton Petroleum website.
