UK Food Council

31/03/2026

Domino's Pizza has a new permanent CEO — and it's the person who's already been leading the charge!

Nicola Frampton, who has served as interim CEO since November 2025, has been confirmed as Chief Executive of Domino's Pizza Group. Before stepping into the interim role, she spent around four years as Chief Operating Officer, so she knows the business inside and out.

Chair Ian Bull praised her leadership, saying she led Domino's "extremely effectively" during a challenging period — and the board was unanimous that Nicola is the right person to take the company forward.

So what's next? Domino's is branching out into fried chicken as part of its growth strategy, alongside keeping its core pizza business on track — with annual profits expected to meet market expectations.
Exciting times ahead for one of the UK's most recognisable food brands!

UK Food Council

30/03/2026

THE UK'S HOSPITALITY SECTOR

Stats from CGA by NIQ suggest one in five pubs, restaurants and hotels fear they may not survive the next 12 months - and from this Wednesday (1 April), the pressure increases.

New business rate increases and rises to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage come into force simultaneously, adding an estimated £1.4 billion in costs across the industry.

Their survey of operators running more than 20,000 venues across the UK found:

✅ 44% are pessimistic about the future of their business
✅ 17% are already operating at a loss
✅ 2% believe their business is already unviable

And that's before the recent upheaval in energy markets is factored in. The hospitality sector is the heartbeat of communities across the country - it creates jobs, supports local suppliers, and brings people together.

03/03/2026

It’s a big day for PizzaExpress! 🍕

Two major announcements landed today from one of Britain’s best-loved restaurant brands:

👤 NEW BOARD MEMBER
Lance Batchelor — former CEO of Domino’s Pizza, Saga and Tesco Mobile — has joined PizzaExpress as a non-executive director. He’ll be working closely with chair Allan Leighton and CEO Paula MacKenzie as the brand continues its growth push.

MAC & WINGS IS HERE
PizzaExpress has today launched Mac & Wings — a brand new delivery concept available exclusively through Deliveroo at more than 300 locations across the UK.

The menu? Baked chicken wings (not fried!), buttermilk tenders, three-cheese mac & cheese, and tasty sides — all made fresh by PizzaExpress chefs in their restaurant kitchens. This concept was first trialled way back in 2020 and has finally gone nationwide today.

With chicken the fastest-growing category in UK food delivery, PizzaExpress is clearly not standing still.

Would you try Mac & Wings? Let us know below!

Read the full story for free — register here:
https://foodcouncil.uk/register

03/03/2026

Big news in the world of craft beer 🍺

BrewDog — the Scottish brewer that helped put UK craft beer on the map — has been sold to American company Tilray Brands for £33 million, after entering administration.

Tilray, a New York-based business with roots in cannabis that has grown into a major beverages group, has taken on BrewDog's brand, its UK brewery, and 11 of its pubs across Birmingham, London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Dublin and Ellon.

Sadly, 38 other BrewDog bars have closed immediately, with 484 jobs lost. And the thousands of fans who invested in BrewDog through its famous 'Equity for Punks' crowdfunding scheme have been told they will receive nothing back from the sale.

On the positive side, 733 jobs have been saved, and Tilray's CEO says he is committed to returning BrewDog to the craft beer excellence that made it famous.

Separate talks are ongoing for BrewDog's US and Australian assets.

The end of an era — or a fresh start? We'd love to know what you think 👇

Read the full story for free — just register here:
https://foodcouncil.uk/register

03/03/2026

News from the supermarket world this morning!

Asda's Executive Chairman Allan Leighton has revealed that the supermarket's next CEO will be appointed from within — promoted from its current team of executives rather than hired externally.

Leighton, who famously turned Asda around in the late 1990s and returned to lead the business again last November, told Retail Week's LIVE conference that Asda has always thrived when it promoted its own people to the top job.

Asda has been searching for a permanent CEO since 2021, and this is the clearest signal yet about the direction of that search.

With a 10-year turnaround plan in motion and a refreshed leadership team in place, is Asda finally starting to find its footing again?

📖 Want the full story? Register for free and read it in full:
👉 https://foodcouncil.uk/register

UK Food Council

11/02/2026

UK households are still throwing away up to £1,000 worth of edible food each year — that's £17 billion of perfectly good food wasted annually at home alone (WRAP data).At the same time, around 1 in 10 people (over 7.5 million) live in food-insecure households, with rates even higher for families with children — often forcing tough choices between meals and essentials. This isn't a question of insufficient supply.

It's a clear failure of distribution, access, and systems. We have the food — yet too much ends up in bins while too many go hungry.

Tackling and together must become a unified national priority: stronger redistribution networks, better incentives for surplus sharing, policy alignment across government and industry, and household-level behaviour change supported by education and infrastructure.

The food industry, policymakers, charities, and communities all have a role to play. What practical steps do you believe could make the biggest difference right now? Full story and insights: https://foodcouncil.uk/register (free registration)

Let's connect and discuss solutions — what are your thoughts or experiences in addressing this disconnect?

UK Food Council

UK households are still throwing away up to £1,000 worth of edible food each year — that's £17 billion of perfectly good food wasted annually at home alone (WRAP data). At the same time, around 1 in 10 people (over 7.5 million) live in food-insecure households, with rates even higher for familie...

06/02/2026

Pie and mash — London’s original fast food — is being squeezed out of the capital.

Independent shops are closing under the pressure of rising rents and changing neighbourhoods, while luxury venues charge premium prices for “reinvented” versions of a once working-class staple.

But the story doesn’t end there. Across Essex and the South East, pie and mash is thriving again - following the communities that made it famous.

It’s a reminder that food culture moves with people, not postcodes.

UK Food Council

Full story: foodcouncil.uk/news (register to unlock)

03/02/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗮𝘁 𝗨𝗞 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀

The Great Northern Market has opened at Manchester Airport Terminal 2 — the UK’s first street-food-style market hall in an airport, featuring six kitchens with everything from Nashville hot chicken to Neapolitan pizza, plus local favourites like Gooey cookies and doughnuts. The lively dining space reflects evolving passenger tastes and offers great choice before departure.

Across the UK’s busiest hub, Pret A Manger is expanding in Heathrow Terminal 5 Arrivals, bringing freshly-made food, barista drinks and snacks around the clock later this year.

Both openings speak to a broader shift in airport food — more fresh, quality, grab-and-go and grab-and-grow experiences that meet travellers’ needs for speed, choice and nutrition on the move.

UK Food Council

03/02/2026

McCain to launch UK ‘Farm of the Future’ in North Yorkshire

McCain Foods has announced plans to establish a new UK Farm of the Future in North Yorkshire, creating a commercial-scale testing ground for regenerative farming practices under real-world conditions.

The 202-hectare site, due to begin potato production in 2026, will support growers facing increasing pressure from climate volatility, soil health challenges and policy uncertainty. Findings will be shared across McCain’s global network of 4,400 farmers.

Developed in partnership with the University of Leeds, the farm will focus on soil health, biodiversity, land productivity, emissions reduction and the use of autonomous machinery and circular nutrient systems.

The project marks McCain’s third Farm of the Future globally and reinforces the role of evidence-led regenerative agriculture in strengthening long-term food system resilience.

Full story: foodcouncil.uk/news

03/02/2026

FACEBOOK POST (UKFC)

UK Pubs Vs Europe: Our New UKFC Insight Report Is Now Live

The UK Food Council has been researching why UK pubs and bars are under such intense pressure — and how they can compete more effectively for foodservice footfall.

Our findings are clear: UK operators carry a higher structural cost base than pub/bar businesses in France, the Netherlands and Germany.

Why it matters
• Business rates in the UK are a heavy fixed cost (payable even when trade is down).
• UK hospitality VAT and alcohol duty add to the “tax stack” on every sale.
• European peers often operate with lower, more predictable local taxes and a stronger “everyday” customer habit — making it easier to invest, recruit, and keep prices competitive.

What needs to change (and what pubs can do now)
We set out the policy shifts required (rates, VAT and duty competitiveness) AND the practical operator playbook for rebuilding footfall.

If you care about the future of pubs — as local employers and community anchors — this report is for you.

Full story: foodcouncil.uk/news (register free)

12/01/2026

A big new name is heading for the UK high street and travel hubs: Jersey Mike’s is planning a 400-site rollout across the UK and Ireland, with the first opening expected in 2026.

What’s especially interesting is that the expansion will be led by the brand’s founder, Peter Cancro, through a UK franchise partner business—suggesting a “hands-on” approach as the concept lands here for the first time.

Why it matters:
✅ More competition in food-to-go (and that usually means sharper value, better service, and faster innovation)
✅ New opportunities for UK food and packaging suppliers
✅ Another sign that the UK remains a priority market for international QSR growth

We’ll be tracking where the first sites appear—and how quickly the pipeline builds after launch.

Full story: foodcouncil.uk/news (register free)

UK Food Council

12/01/2026

There’s some cautious good news on food prices.

Industry figures show UK grocery inflation eased to 4.3% in the four weeks to 28 December 2025, down from 4.7% in the previous four-week period. And after its Christmas trading update, Sainsbury’s said it expects food inflation to continue falling through 2026, helped by a more stable commodity outlook.

That said, “lower inflation” doesn’t mean “no pressure”. Wages are still rising and the National Living Wage increases to £12.71 per hour from 1 April 2026 (+4.1%). For retailers, suppliers and hospitality operators alike, the balancing act continues: keeping food affordable while protecting quality, resilience and fair returns across the supply chain.

UK Food Council