Elis’ Bold Move to Acquire Mayo’s OCL Laundry Services: What Industry Insiders Aren’t Telling You

Ever wonder what happens when a French giant with a knack for linens sets its sights on a scrappy Irish contender? Well, Elis, the powerhouse renting linens and workwear to hospitality and healthcare sectors, just inked a deal to snap up OCL Laundry Services—a Mayo-based marvel that’s been quietly turning heads with its triple-fold profit steamroller. It’s like watching a business thriller unfold, only this one’s about clean sheets and spotless growth! With the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission now in the loop, fingers are crossed about what’s behind those undisclosed terms. OCL, a Ballinrobe stalwart since 2000, bringing 150 folks and nearly €2.2m in profit to the table—talk about washing up big! Elis isn’t new to this game, having expanded across Britain and Ireland with some hefty acquisitions under its belt, but this move might just shake up the laundry and workwear playbook in ways we’re eager to see. Curious about the details and the numbers behind this fabric of success? LEARN MORE

Elis, the French-owned linen and workwear rental business servicing the hospitality and healthcare sectors, has agreed a deal to acquire the Mayo-based OCL Laundry Services.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) was notified of the acquisition on Friday, but details have not yet been disclosed.

Based in Ballinrobe, OCL Laundry Services was established in 2000 by outgoing owner Alan O’Connor. The company primarily offers commercial laundry services for the hospitality industry and employs around 150 people.

OCL more than tripled its annual profits in the 12 months to the end of February 2024, bringing in nearly €2.2m compared to €664,400 the previous year.

The latest available accounts show equity of €5.2m, with tangible assets of €3.4m, including €685,800 in land and buildings freehold and €2m in plant and machinery.

Elis, which expanded in Britain and Ireland following its £2.2bn takeover of Berendsen in 2017 and its acquistion of Kings Laundry the following year, also provides washroom services and pest control in Ireland.

The company’s main Irish division, Elis Textiles Ltd, made a profit of €3.9m in 2023, the last year for which accounts are available, down from €5.9m in 2022 as turnover sank from €41.4m to €34.3m.

The accounts listed shareholders’ funds of €32.8m and 503 employees in administration and operations, down from 724 the previous year.

Parent group Elis reported revenue of €2.3bn and net income of €152.6m for the first half of 2025, up 4.3 per cent and 28.6 per cent year-on-year, respectively.

The group estimates the flat linen accounts for 46 per cent of its turnover by service, workwear 37 per cent and hygiene and wellbeing 17 per cent.

The UK & Ireland contributed 12 per cent of revenues in H1 ahead of south Europe (nine per cent) and Latin America (ten per cent) but behind Scandinavia & eastern Europe (14 per cent), central Europe (26 per cent) and France (29 per cent).

Elis made revenues of €286.9m (+4 per cent) in the UK and Ireland for the half and adjusted EBITDA rose to €91.5m at a higher margin of 31.9 per cent, up 80 basis points from H1 2024 on the back of improving productivity and logistics.

In the UK and Ireland region, flat linen (€176m) made up the bulk of sales ahead of workwear (€90.5m), hygeine and wellbeing equipment (€15.7m) and other (€4.7m) while healthcare (€113.2m) and hospitality (€93.2m) businesses were its leading customers.

Elis and OCL Laundry Services could not be reached for comment.

(Pic: Elis)