Food and drink deals spike as big firms look to strengthen positions January 23, 2025 M&A deal volumes in the food and drink sector saw a double digit rise last year, as buyers targeted undervalued companies in a bid to strengthen their positions in the market. Total deal volume rose to 151 deals in 2024, a 29.1 per cent increase from 117 deals in the previous year, while the total [...]
‘Find me unwinding in my jacuzzi’: The life of Planet Organic founder Renee Elliott January 23, 2025 Planet Organic founder Renee Elliott built a health food empire in London. She tells us how she did it and what her life's like now.
Domino’s Pizza gobbles up sales in Central Europe January 16, 2025 Increased hunger for pizza across Poland and Croatia helped sales jump at the owner of Domino’s in both European countries, according to new figures. DP Poland, which runs Domino’s Pizza stores and restaurants across Poland and Croatia, has racked up system sales of £55.4m for 2024 after being able to attract new customers. In Poland, [...]
‘We hope this is not goodbye’: Partridges to close iconic London store after 53 years January 14, 2025 Independent family-run food store Partridges is to close its iconic London location after 53 years. The company is to shutter its fine food store in Duke of York Square, Chelsea, on 2 February. Partridges confirmed that its location in Gloucester Road, Kensington, will continue to trade as usual and that a new store will open [...]
Rising wages hit British strawberry growers January 13, 2025 The British berry growing industry has warned its future is under threat despite its value rising to £2bn for the first time. According to industry body British Berry Growers, rising energy costs and wage increases will continue to create ‘challenging circumstances’ for fruit farmers in 2025. The latest warning comes after the British Berry Growers [...]
Marks and Spencer shares plunge despite bumper results January 9, 2025 Marks and Spencer shares plunged by eight per cent in early deals this morning as investors digested the company’s Christmas trading update. The food and clothing retailer told markets this morning that food sales increased 8.7 in the 13 weeks to December 28, and sales of its new Christmas products grew 14 per cent. This [...]
Group linked to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar returns to profit January 8, 2025 A company linked to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has returned to the black, according to its most recently revealed set of accounts. Glasgow-based Hero Brands, whose portfolio includes German Doner Kebab, Island Poké and Choppaluna, has reported a £3.8m pre-tax profit for 2023. The new figure has been revealed in a statement while its [...]
Yeo Valley doubles profit after natural yoghurt demand surges January 6, 2025 Profit at Yeo Valley has almost doubled after sales at the dairy giant jumped by £40m during its latest financial year. The Somerset-headquartered business has reported a pre-tax profit of £8.1m for the year to 26 May, 2024, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. The latest figure comes after Yeo Valley returned to the [...]
Abel & Cole owner enters the red as it battles cost-of-living crisis January 2, 2025 The owner of organic vegetables box business Abel & Cole fell into the red despite sales increasing as it battled the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. William Jackson Food Group, which acquired Abel & Cole in 2012, has reported a pre-tax loss of £1.5m for the year to 27 April, 2024. The loss comes after the [...]
Trends for 2025: Mr Lyan reckons pop-ups are back December 28, 2024 The latest in our series of articles about food trends: 2025 will see the return of the pop-up, and tropical cocktails, reckons Mr Lyan Mr Lyan’s bars have won the accolade of world’s best bar twice. He runs cocktail venues across the capital, including Lyaness, Super Lyan and Seed Library. He also writes books and [...]