311225 - Fats and Oils Refining and Blending
The fats and oils industry plays a vital role in manufacturing products essential to daily life—from cooking oils to margarine and shortening. If you're a business owner, government contractor, or industry enthusiast, understanding NAICS code 311225 is crucial. This code specifically covers establishments engaged in refining and blending fats and oils. In this blog post, we'll explore everything you need to know about NAICS 311225, its scope, business examples, size standards, and more.
What is NAICS Code 311225?
NAICS Code 311225 - Fats and Oils Refining and Blending includes establishments primarily engaged in the refining and blending of fats and oils from various sources such as vegetable oils and animal fats. The industry’s end products include:
- Cooking oils
- Margarine
- Shortening
- Butter substitutes
- Other fats and oil-based culinary products
This industry segment plays a critical role in converting raw fats and oils into consumer-ready products.
Sector and Business Activities
NAICS 311225 falls under the Manufacturing sector. Businesses in this classification typically perform activities such as:
- Refining crude vegetable oils (corn, soybean, canola, cottonseed, etc.)
- Blending animal fats and vegetable oils to produce shortening and margarine
- Hydrogenating oils to modify texture and increase shelf life
- Producing nondairy butter substitutes
- Manufacturing cooking and baking sprays from refined oils
Typical Business Types
- Vegetable oil refining plants
- Animal fat rendering and refining facilities
- Blending operations producing margarine and shortening
- Facilities producing specialty oils like olive oil, palm-kernel oil, and tree nut oils
Size Standard for NAICS Code 311225
According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), businesses classified under NAICS 311225 qualify as small if they have 1,100 or fewer employees. This size standard is used for government contracting eligibility, loan qualifications, and other federal assistance programs.
Detailed Code Description and Product Examples
The fats and oils refining and blending industry specializes in refining and blending a wide variety of fats and oils. Below is a comprehensive list of typical products and activities covered under NAICS 311225:
| Product or Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Butter substitutes made from purchased oils | Alternatives to natural butter |
| Canola (rapeseed) oil | Vegetable oil refined from canola seeds |
| Cake and meal, made from purchased oils | By-products of oil extraction |
| Coconut oil made from purchased oils | Refined oil from coconuts |
| Cooking and baking oil sprays made from purchased oils | Oil sprays used in culinary applications |
| Corn oil made from purchased oils | Refined oil extracted from corn germ |
| Cottonseed oil made from purchased oils | Oil derived from cottonseed |
| Flaxseed oil made from purchased oils | Oil extracted from flaxseed |
| Grease, inedible, animal and vegetable, refining and blending purchased oils | Non-consumable greases |
| Hydrogenating purchased oil | Chemical process that solidifies oils |
| Lecithin made from purchased oils | Emulsifier derived from oils |
| Linseed oil made from purchased oils | Oil derived from flax seeds |
| Margarine-butter blend made from purchased fats and oils | Margarine blended with butter |
| Margarines (including imitation) made from purchased fats and oils | Butter substitutes from fats and oils |
| Nondairy butter made from purchased oils | Butter alternatives suitable for lactose intolerant consumers |
| Olive oil made from purchased oils | High-quality refined olive oils |
| Oil, vegetable stearin, made from purchased oils | Hardened oil used in food and industrial applications |
| Palm-kernel oil made from purchased oils | Oil extracted from palm kernel |
| Peanut oil made from purchased oils | Cooking oil derived from peanuts |
| Rapeseed (i.e., canola) oil made from purchased oils | Another term for canola oil |
| Safflower oil made from purchased oils | Oil extracted from safflower seeds |
| Shortening made from purchased fats and oils | Solid fats used in baking |
| Soybean cooking oil made from purchased oils | Popular vegetable cooking oil |
| Table oil made from purchased oils | Oils intended for direct consumption |
| Tree nut oils (e.g., tung, walnut) made from purchased oils | Specialty nut oils refined for food use |
| Vegetable oils made from purchased oils | Generic category of various vegetable oils |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What types of companies fall under NAICS 311225?
Companies involved in refining raw vegetable and animal fats/oils, blending oils for culinary products like margarine and shortening, and producing cooking sprays or nondairy butter substitutes fall under this code.
Is NAICS 311225 only concerned with edible oils?
Primarily, yes. However, some inedible greases and oils used for industrial applications are also included if they are part of the refining and blending process.
What is the primary sector of NAICS 311225?
It belongs to the Manufacturing sector.
How many employees make a business "small" under this NAICS?
Businesses with 1,100 or fewer employees are considered small for NAICS 311225.
Can this NAICS code be used for government contracting?
Yes, businesses under this code can participate in federal contracts and qualify for small business programs if they meet size standards.
Conclusion
NAICS code 311225 - Fats and Oils Refining and Blending plays a critical role in the manufacturing sector by converting raw fats and oils into a variety of consumer and industrial products. Understanding this code is essential for businesses involved in refining, blending, and manufacturing fats and oils, especially for those seeking government contracts or navigating regulatory frameworks.
With a clear grasp of the sector, product types, and size standards, businesses can better position themselves for success in this dynamic industry.
Keywords: NAICS code 311225, fats and oils refining, fats and oils blending, vegetable oil refining, margarine production, shortening manufacturing, manufacturing sector NAICS, small business size standards, government contracting fats and oils
