A non‐aqueous isocratic reversed‐phase packed capillary high performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of retinyl esters, utilizing temperature programming and on‐column focusing large volume injection, has been developed. The stationary phase material was C30, and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile‐dichloromethane (70 : 30, v/v). A three‐step temperature program, starting at 10°C for 10 min, then 1°/min to 30°C, and finally 2.5°/min to 70°C, was found most appropriate. Compared to an isothermal separation at 25°C, this temperature program provided improved peak resolution, enhanced peak shapes of the last eluting compounds, and a reduction of the overall elution time. A mass limit of detection of 27 pg was found with respect to retinyl palmitate, using UV detection with an “U” shaped flow cell at 327 nm. This corresponds to a concentration limit of detection of 2.7 pg/μL, when utilizing an injection volume of 10 μL. The concentration of retinyl palmitate in arctic seal liver samples was estimated to be 62.6 μg/g liver.