Omega Pressery lands First Major UK Listing with Waitrose as Healthy Cooking Oils Enter Growth Phase

Cold-pressed avocado and macadamia oil brand joins Waitrose’s Brands New programme amid rising demand for healthier, cleaner and more sustainable alternatives to seed oils

Omega Pressery has announced its nationwide launch into Waitrose, marking the brand’s first major UK retail listing just 18 months after its debut in May 2024. Its cold-pressed, ethical Extra Virgin Avocado Oil and Extra Virgin Macadamia Oil are exclusively rolling out across more than half the Waitrose estate as part of the supermarket’s Brands New programme, supporting Waitrose’s commitment to healthier and more sustainable everyday choices.

Founded by fourth-generation Kenyan husband-and-wife duo Nikita Dawda and Niheer Shah, Omega Pressery produces premium oils crafted from rescued, “wonky” avocados and macadamias that would otherwise go to waste. Its direct farm-to-bottle model works with more than 3,000 East African smallholder farmers - 68% of whom are women- creating a fully traceable, equitable supply chain that improves farmer livelihoods while dramatically reducing food waste.

The brand has experienced rapid growth since launch only last year, expanding from a direct-to-consumer startup into a national business, now with over 700 retail points nationwide. Omega Pressery is now stocked in Waitrose, Fortnum & Mason, Amazon, Grape Tree and more than 200 independent health stores, butchers and farm shops across the UK, marking one of the fastest uptakes for an emerging oil brand in the category. Its Extra Virgin Avocado Oil has also become the only avocado oil on the UK market to secure a 3-Star Great Taste Award, underscoring its quality credentials.

“This milestone brings us closer to our mission of making healthier, all-purpose cooking oils accessible to everyone,” said co-founder Nikita Dawda. “With their naturally high smoke point, our oils perform brilliantly for everyday cooking, drizzling and frying - and we’re proud to do this through a fully traceable, sustainable supply chain that supports East African smallholder farmers.”

The listing comes as avocado oil gains ground as a next-generation “healthy all-purpose oil.” Naturally rich in monounsaturated fats — the same heart-healthy fats found in olive oil — avocado oil also contains vitamin E and lutein, and is cold-pressed without chemical refining, bleaching or deodorising. Crucially, it has a naturally high smoke point, leading it to retain its nutritional integrity better during cooking compared with many premium oils that degrade at lower temperatures. This combination of nutrient density, clean-label extraction and high heat performance is driving avocado oil’s rise as a versatile, health-forward alternative to traditional premium oils.

The UK market is starting to mirror the rapid growth seen in the US, where avocado oil has moved from niche to mainstream and grown into a £600m-equivalent segment. With UK olive oil valued at £920m* and forecast to exceed £1.2bn by 2030, analysts point to a £180m–£250m opportunity. Despite the momentum, avocado oil remains significantly under-represented on UK shelves, creating a clear opening for sustainability and quality-led challengers like Omega Pressery.

The shift isn’t limited to cooking oils. Avocado oil is increasingly being used as a premium frying medium across snacking categories - particularly crisps - and dressings, as brands and retailers look to remove seed oils and offer “cleaner” ingredient labels without compromising taste or texture. Several brands in the UK and US have reformulated their ranges to avocado oil to meet rising consumer interest in healthier fats and less processed oils, a move that has allowed them to premiumise while tapping into the same health-driven behaviour reshaping the oils aisle. This crossover adoption is accelerating awareness of avocado oil among mainstream shoppers and helping pull the category further into the everyday pantry.

Omega Pressery’s Waitrose debut follows a series of significant wins for the brand:

• Great Taste 2024: The only avocado oil ever to win a 3-Star Great Taste Award; Macadamia Oil awarded 1-Star.

• Fortnum & Mason Open Call Winner 2025: One of only eight brands selected (300 applicants), which secured a 3-month flagship window display and a permanent listing.

• Amazon’s Choice 2025 for avocado oil.

• Lunch! Innovation Challenge Gold Winner for macadamia oil.

• Distribution explosion: From 50 independent stores in Dec 2024 to 700+ stores nationwide by Nov 2025 across Waitrose, Grapetree, Planet Organic, Source Bulk Foods, Fortnum & Mason and 250+ independents.

Sustainability & traceability: a key point of difference

• Omega Pressery operates a zero-waste, circular supply chain

• Rescues up to 50% of annual avocado and macadamia harvests that would otherwise be discarded.

• Pays smallholder farmers 20–30% above market value for imperfect fruit.

• Distributes free seedlings each season and provides regenerative farming training.

• Supports local communities by investing in village wells, school painting and essential infrastructure.

• Uses rain-fed crops with 3× lower water use than commercial plantations.

• Cold-presses fruit within one week of harvest for purity and nutrient retention.

• Bottles exclusively in 100% recycled materials; no blending or chemical refining.

• Implements full “Branch-to-Bottle” traceability, tracking farm origin, soil profiles, harvest dates, press dates and batch-level testing.