Wastefile backed by Bregal Freshstream Capital
Wastefile rebrands as Reconomy after Operations Director Paul Cox took over the business and secured scale-up capital from Bregal Freshstream Capital.
Building a Dry Waste Business
Paul Cox began his entrepreneurial journey in the early 1990s, developing his own dry waste business. In 1999, he played a key role in creating WasteFile and later led a management buyout in 2001.
Acquisition and Rebranding
In July 2006, Telford-based WasteFile was acquired by Englefield Capital (now Bregal Capital) in a transaction led by Mark Sapsford. The business was subsequently rebranded as Reconomy Solutions, evolving into a holding company for recycling operations with trucks and depots.
Strategic Growth Through Acquisitions
Reconomy expanded rapidly through a series of acquisitions, including Eurokey and Valpak. With private equity investment fueling growth, the company became one of the fastest-growing circular economy businesses, reaching over £1bn in revenue and operating in 30 countries by 2022.
Adapting to Market Changes
Following the 2008 economic crash, CEO Paul Cox shifted Reconomy’s focus towards technology, customer data, and service propositions. The company expanded its services to infrastructure, utilities, and commercial industries, with part of the business later being sold to Viridor.
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