Kraft Heinz Calls Time on Break-Up A Strategic Reset With UK Grocery Implications

The global food system rarely stands still. Yet even by sector standards, the decision by Kraft Heinz to pause its planned corporate break-up marks a notable shift in direction.

Under newly appointed chief executive Steve Cahillane, the company has stepped back from separating its portfolio into distinct businesses and instead chosen to focus on reinvestment, operational execution and brand revitalisation. Markets had anticipated structural change. What they received was a strategic recalibration.

Why UK Pubs Cost More To Run Than European Peers

After extensive sector modelling and operator consultation, the UK Food Council concludes that the UK pub sector is operating within a structurally heavier fiscal and fixed-cost environment than comparable venues in France, Netherlands and Germany.

Dave’s Hot Chicken Accelerates UK Rollout as Nashville-Style QSR Gains Momentum

Dave’s Hot Chicken continues to build momentum across the UK quick-service restaurant (QSR) market as the fast-growing fried chicken brand expands its national footprint and prepares for further rollout.

The California-founded concept made its UK debut on Shaftesbury Avenue, London, in December 2024, quickly attracting sustained customer queues and strong early trading performance.

Pie and Mash: Can London's Original Fast Food Survive? 

Pie and mash shops have been pushed to the brink over the past two decades, not by changing tastes alone, but by the steady reshaping of London itself. As gentrification has displaced long-standing East End communities, the food traditions that travelled with them have been forced to follow. What was once a fixture of neighbourhood life is now fighting for relevance in the capital it helped feed.

Tortilla founder returns as leadership reshaped

The founder of UK Mexican restaurant group Tortilla has returned to the business to lead its next phase of growth, following the departure of its chief executive and a series of senior management appointments drawn from across the UK casual dining sector.

Workplace catering is being quietly re-engineered inside large UK corporations.

Hybrid working, ESG accountability and talent competition have exposed the limits of legacy catering models. Food is no longer just a perk — it’s becoming operational infrastructure.

This spring, the UK Food Council will convene a series of executive panel discussions and focus groups, starting in London (April)and rolling out to Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle during May–June 2026.

Heineken’s decision to cut 6,000 jobs - around 7% of its global workforce

This is far more than a corporate restructuring story. It’s a signal of deeper structural shifts in both consumer behaviour and the operating environment for hospitality. Beer consumption is declining across key markets, driven by long‑term changes in lifestyle, health consciousness, and a younger demographic that is drinking less - or not at all

UK Grocery Inflation Eases – But Pressure Persists for Shoppers and Retailers

UK grocery inflation eased to 4.0%, its lowest level since April last year — but the pressure on households and suppliers is far from over.

While Tesco and Sainsbury’s continue to consolidate share, discounters like Lidl are growing at pace, and online players such as Ocado remain resilient. Meanwhile, Asda’s continued decline highlights the widening structural divide in UK food retail.

Taxed Before Trading: How UK Pubs Compare with Europe

A comparative insight into operating costs across the UK, France, the Netherlands and Germany. UK pubs and bars are facing sustained financial pressure, with closures continuing despite recent government intervention aimed at easing business rate costs. While the UK Treasury’s move to provide relief has been welcomed by operators, a wider international comparison reveals a more fundamental issue: UK pubs remain structurally more expensive to operate than their European counterparts.

UK Food & Beverage M&A in 2025: Resilience in a Testing Market
UK Food Industry | Insight & Analysis

Despite a challenging macroeconomic backdrop in 2025, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity across the UK food and beverage sector demonstrated notable resilience. While total transaction volumes and aggregate deal values softened compared with 2024, the underlying level of activity highlights sustained strategic interest and long-term investor confidence in the sector.

UK Food Council Supports Economist Impact’s Future of Food Summit with Complimentary Delegate Passes

As a Supporting Organisation of Economist Impact’s Future of Food Summit, the UK Food Council is offering a limited number of complimentary delegate passes to senior leaders across the UK food manufacturing, retail, and food service sectors.

Pret-a-Manger Expands Heathrow Partnership

Grab-And-Go, Automation And The Next Phase Of Travel Foodservice Growth 

The UK travel foodservice sector is often characterised as mature, saturated or fully penetrated. However, evidence from recent investment and operator behaviour suggests the sector is not exhausted — it is being fundamentally reshaped. At the centre of this evolution is the continued rise of Grab-and-Go convenience food, particularly within airports, rail hubs and motorway service areas, where speed, reliability and availability now outweigh traditional dwell-time dining.

London’s Nightlife Taskforce Report: A Strategic Blueprint For Night-Time Economies

London’s Nightlife Taskforce has published a major new report with 23 recommendations aimed at saving and strengthening the capital’s vital night-time industries — from pubs and clubs to cultural venues and late-night workers. With London’s night-time economy contributing over £139 billion annually and supporting more than 1 million jobs, the blueprint prioritises modernised licensing, cultural recognition, economic relief and better transport and safety.

Côte Brasserie CEO Emma Dinnis has left the business

Côte Brasserie CEO Emma Dinnis has left the business with immediate effect, less than 12 months into the role and just three months after the chain’s acquisition by the Karali Group. Another leadership reset for UK casual dining as operators navigate cost pressure and structural change.

UK Pub Market Sector Report & Recovery Playbook (January 2026)

The UK pub sector is not simply “in decline”; it is being reshaped by a structurally higher cost base (rates, labour, utilities, finance) alongside consumer shifts (moderation, fewer spontaneous midweek visits, and stronger at-home value propositions). Closures continue, but demand has not disappeared. It is migrating towards venues that offer a clear reason to visit: quality food, experience-led socialising, great service, inclusive ranges (including low/no), and better use of dayparts (morning–lunch–evening).

The pub comeback is less about nostalgia and more about modern hospitality execution—clear positioning, disciplined operations, and compelling programming.

Revolution Bars, HM Treasury and the uncomfortable truth about UK hospitality resilience

The recent restructuring of Revolution Bars Grouphas become more than a corporate rescue story. It has emerged as a defining case study in how UK hospitality is being forced to survive — not through policy support, but through insolvency law.

Facing collapse after sustained cost inflation, pandemic-era debt and declining discretionary spend, Revolution Bars secured court approval for a restructuring plan that included site closures, rent reductions and a partial write-down of tax liabilities.

Zuma signs multi-year partnership Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1

Azumi Ltd., the internationally acclaimed restaurant group behind Zuma, ROKA, Oblix, and other globally celebrated dining concepts, announces a multi-year collaboration agreement between Zuma and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.

This significant alliance marks the first time a global lifestyle restaurant brand has directly joined forces with an F1 team, establishing a new intersection of hospitality, culture and elite sport. Under the agreement, Zuma becomes the team’s exclusive and official Lifestyle & Dining Curator.

Food Industry Insight Report 2026: AI Deployment Across the UK Food System

The UK Food Council is inviting academics, technology providers, food manufacturers, processors, retailers, logistics operators and supply-chain specialists to contribute evidence, insight and case material to its forthcoming Food Industry Insight Report 2026, focused on the deployment of AI across the UK food industry.

Christmas 2025 delivered a record £13.8bn grocery peak (four weeks to 28 Dec)

Households spent ~£476 on average — and volumes still up +1.1%.

The signal back through the UK Food Industry supply chain is clear: shoppers “protected” food spend, but they changed the festive mix.

Durham Cricket has appointed Thomas Franks as its new catering partner at Banks Homes Riverside in Chester-le-Street

Thomas Franks will now oversee all food, beverage and hospitality services at the stadium (the contract went live on 1 January 2026), replacing the previous in-house operation.

Greencore’s £1.2bn acquisition of Bakkavor has now completed (16 January 2026) — but only after the UK competition regulator forced a structural remedy to protect competition in own-label chilled sauces.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) sign-off hinged on Greencore divesting its Bristol chilled soups & sauces operation as a “clear-cut” solution to concerns that fewer suppliers could mean higher prices and/or reduced quality for shoppers.

Oksana Osmachko, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, Ukraine

At the Future of Food Summit, Osmachko will provide a rare and practical perspective on how conflict, infrastructure risk and policy coordination intersect — and what this means for governments, retailers and food producers reliant on global sourcing.

Máximo Torero, Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN

At the Future of Food Summit, Torero will address the structural challenges facing global food systems and outline the economic frameworks required to safeguard supply, stabilise prices and ensure long-term access to healthy diets. Read more

Mars Turns AI into an Ingredient Discovery Engine

Mars is pushing AI beyond trend-spotting and into ingredient discovery – using structured “knowledge graphs” and fermentation science to identify new plant bioactives, alternative proteins and formulation-ready compounds.

Gavin Hodgson Director of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Horticulture, Sainsbury’s

At the Future of Food Summit in London next month, Hodgson is expected to focus on the realities behind net-zero commitments in retail. For most supermarket groups, the largest share of emissions and nature impact sits outside direct operations—embedded in upstream supply chains. That shifts attention to the “how” of delivery: how standards are set and verified; how transition costs are shared; how farm businesses remain viable during practice change; and how progress is measured without distorting incentives or pushing unmanageable risk onto primary producers.

Milk Down the Drain: Over supply, Price Cuts and a UK Processing Bottleneck

Dairy farmers are reporting that, in parts of the UK, some processors have advised producers to dispose of surplus milk - a stark and unpopular instruction at a time when farmgate prices are falling fast and public scrutiny of food waste is rising.

Economist Impact’s Future of Food Summit lands in London on 10 February 2026

Speaker line-up that connects global food economics, conflict-driven disruption and UK retail sourcing reality — through one unifying question: what does “resilience” actually mean when margins are tight and volatility is the new normal? 

Coca-Cola Shelves Costa Sale £2bn Valuation Gap Exposes A High St. Reality Check

Reports indicate Coca-Cola ended talks with remaining bidders, drawing a line under a months-long auction. Firms linked to the later stages included TDR Capital and Bain Capital’s special situations fund, with other global buyout houses said to have looked earlier in the process.

TGI Fridays sets 2030 growth target: 1,000+ sites and $2bn revenue as Phil Broad takes global expansion lead

TGI Fridays has launched a new global growth blueprint designed to reposition the brand for the next generation of casual-dining consumers, setting a target of more than 1,000 restaurants and $2 billion in annual revenue by 2030.

Ocado’s ‘Tiny Steak’ Is a Big Signal: How GLP-1s Are Reshaping Grocery Retail

Ocado has launched a new Weight Management aisle, designed to help shoppers who are actively managing portion size and prioritising nutrient density. The product that grabbed the headlines was a 100g “small extra lean steak” — but the strategic story is far larger than one cut of beef.

Xmas Chinese Takeaway And “Forgotten Groceries” Fuel Spike In On-Demand Orders

Just Eat reports that it processed more than 17 million UK orders in December, as customers leaned on on-demand delivery for both takeaway meals and last-minute groceries across the Christmas and New Year period.

Jersey Mike’s confirms 400-site UK & Ireland expansion in first European move

Jersey Mike’s has signed a franchise agreement to open 400 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, marking the brand’s first expansion into Europe. The first location is planned to open in 2026, with a wider multi-site rollout intended to follow.

Samworth Brothers strengthens Group Executive Board with two senior hires

British food manufacturer Samworth Brothers has unveiled two new senior appointments and confirmed further additions to its Group Executive Board, as it sharpens focus on long-term strategy, category execution and organisational capability.

Sainsbury’s: expects food inflation to keep easing through 2026 

UK grocery inflation eased to 4.3%in the four weeks to 28 December 2025, down from 4.7%in the prior period. Following its Christmas trading update, Sainsbury’s said it expects food inflation to continue falling through 2026, citing a steadier commodity outlook and long-term cost planning.

Can intercropping help UK milling wheat hit protein specs?

Intercropping wheat with a pulse can boost grain protein in low-N systems — but only in some seasons. New UK trials comparing wheat–faba bean intercrops with monocrops found that in 2023/24.

Britain’s competition regulator has moved Associated British Foods’ proposed acquisition of Hovis into a full “Phase 2” investigation — using a fast-track route requested by the parties. If approved, the deal would bring two major UK packaged bread brands under one group: ABF’s Allied Bakeries (Kingsmill, Allinson’s, Sunblest) and Hovis.

Signature Dining launches “Great British Pub Local” dining concept for care homes

Signature Dining has launched a new pub-themed dining and events concept for care homes across the UK, designed to bring a slice of traditional British pub culture to residents through familiar dishes, themed occasions, and a more social mealtime experience. Read more

Sodexo Live! appoints Steven Cova to lead Sports & Stadia operations

Sodexo Live! has appointed Steven Cova as Divisional Operations Director for Sports & Stadia, strengthening its senior leadership capability across one of the UK’s fastest-evolving hospitality environments: major venues.

Greggs Q4 like-for-like sales rise 2.9% as FY2025 revenue reaches £2.15bn

Greggs has reported a 2.9% increase in like-for-like sales in its fourth quarter, rounding off a year in which the food-to-go retailer grew total sales 6.8%to £2.15bn. While market conditions remained challenging, the business continued to expand its footprint and sharpen its value-led proposition, backed by ongoing investment in supply chain capacity designed to support longer-term growth.

Ministers explore pub concessions as business rates pressure intensifies

Ministers are reported to be exploring concessions for pubs and hospitality businesses as pressure mounts ahead of the April 2026 business rates revaluation and the withdrawal of current relief arrangements. In comments reported this week, Downing Street signalled that Treasury ministers are continuing discussions with the sector, as the government faces growing concern over the potential pace of closures and the wider economic impact on hospitality-led high streets.

Bakkavor’s FTSE 350 profile comes into sharper focus as Greencore takeover nears key January milestones

Bakkavor Group (LSE: BAKK), one of the UK’s best-known fresh prepared food manufacturers, has been highlighted this week as part of the FTSE 350 “Food Producers” universe — a reminder of just how central the fresh prepared category has become to the UK’s everyday food system.

Defra sets out 2026 Sustainable Farming Incentive reforms, with June window prioritising smaller farms

Standfirst:
Defra Secretary of State Emma Reynolds is using the Oxford Farming Conference (8 January 2026) to outline a reform package for England’s Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), including two application windows in 2026, new collaboration funding, and an extended offer for farming in protected landscapes. 

Rejected Vegetables Could Become A New Income Stream For UK Growers

Rejected and surplus vegetables may soon represent a practical new revenue line for UK growers, as on-farm depackaging and separation technology makes it easier to recover value from crops that do not reach retail specifications.

NWTC reports £13.9m full-year loss as CVA reshapes estate around The Botanist

The New World Trading Company (NWTC)has reported a statutory loss of £13.9mfor the 52 weeks ended 30 March 2025, as the operator absorbed restructuring costs linked to its CVA alongside interest expenses associated with its capital structure. Despite the headline loss, the group said underlying trading improved through the year, supported by tighter operational control and a renewed focus on its core brand, The Botanist.

Nestlé issues precautionary recall of selected infant formula batches in the UK and across parts of Europe

Nestlé has confirmed a voluntary, precautionary recall covering specific batches of its infant formula products in the UK and several European markets. The recall is linked to a potential food safety risk associated with cereulide (a toxin sometimes linked to Bacillus cereus).