Members’ News

September 2026

Bidfood serves up its biggest festive deals programme in a decade to help customers plan ahead for Christmas #

Bidfood is helping customers get ahead of the festive rush with the launch of its biggest Christmas deals programme in ten years, offering more than 400 seasonal deals to support menu planning, cost control and festive trading.

At the heart of the campaign is an expanded Christmas pre-order range, which has grown from 100 to 150 products, giving operators even more choice when planning their festive menus.

Customers who pre-order selected seasonal favourites can also benefit from a further 10% discount against standard Christmas deal prices.

Building on the success of Bidfood’s 2025 Christmas pre-order, which saved customers just under £230,000 in total, this year’s 2026 pre-order offer is set to be bigger and better than ever.

From festive favourites to value-led seasonal lines, the programme has been designed to give operators the tools to plan earlier, build appealing Christmas menus and make confident purchasing decisions during one of the busiest trading periods of the year. 
 
By encouraging earlier planning and pre-ordering, the campaign helps customers secure key festive products, manage costs more confidently and reduce the last-minute pressure that can come with the Christmas rush.

Katie Sillars, Head of Commercial Growth Initiatives at Bidfood said:
“Christmas is a huge opportunity for our customers, but we know it can also be one of the most demanding times of the year. That’s why we’ve built a campaign that makes festive planning easier, more flexible and more cost-conscious.

“With more than 400 festive deals and a bigger pre-order range than ever before, customers have more choice, more value and more ways to get ahead before the season gets into full swing.

“It’s all about helping operators feel prepared, protect their margins and deliver festive menus their customers will love.”

Find out more by visiting https://view.bidfood.co.uk/christmas/bidfood-christmas-deals-2026/

Powering Communities – Solar Panel Donation Supports London Energy Project #

Leading meals provider, apetito, has donated close to 200 solar panels to Energy Garden, London’s largest community energy organisation, helping to power a new green community space designed to bring people together through creative and educational activities and granting access to clean, community-owned energy.

The initiative will use the repurposed panels to provide the electrical supply needed to run the site, creating a lasting resource for local people while supporting learning opportunities, biodiversity and community engagement.

The panels have been repurposed from the site of apetito’s future food production facility ‘Kitchen West’ in Trowbridge, which is aiming to be one of the most sustainable in the UK. Preparations for construction have focused on carefully deconstructing existing buildings, prioritising the reuse and repurposing of materials wherever possible.

As part of this approach, the solar panels have been given a new life through this project delivered with Carbon3 and hosted at Cultivate Colindale, a community-led sustainability space developed in partnership with Wayward, Barnet Council, Barnet Homes and Notting Hill Genesis.

Beyond generating clean energy, the initiative will support Energy Garden's accredited youth training and education programmes, helping young people build practical skills in solar energy, panel repair and energy systems while demonstrating how community-owned infrastructure can create both environmental and social value.

Agamemnon Otero, Founder & CEO at Energy Garden, explains how this project highlights the wider role partnerships play in delivering community energy and initiatives:

“There are 4,500 square meters of space here, adjacent to a park of 20,000 square meters, and there is no electrical hookup with UK power networks. By installing solar onto the roof of this green space, we’ll be able to power the site itself and create a place where 40,000 homes can access and engage with clean, green, community-owned renewable energy.

“The gift from apetito is more than just about reuse, it’s about enabling a project to happen that wouldn’t otherwise have the funding to do that.”

Speaking about the impact of the donation on the community, Lee Sheppard, Director of Corporate Affairs, Policy & Sustainability at apetito said:

“Social value is incredibly important to us; it’s a core part of our ESG approach. Being able to support a project like this, and make a real difference in the communities we serve by improving access to renewable energy and shared spaces, is something we’re really proud of.

“In addition to social value, there’s the environmental aspect. It’s key that we minimise our use of valuable resources, increasing our use of renewables and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, while reusing and repurposing wherever we can – this will all help create a more resilient planet.”

Tom Kendall, Associate Director at Wayward, added:
“The energy infrastructure that’s being created today is going to be an amazing resource for us, both as an educational tool to teach people about sustainability and how we can harness all these amazing natural resources, but also - in a really simple way - without solar power here we would have no power. Projects like this wouldn’t survive without these kind of partnerships.”

The panels will continue to generate renewable energy for years to come, making a real difference in Barnet’s local community through clean electricity, practical education opportunities and support for community energy initiatives. By giving the panels a second life, the project champions wider efforts to make better use of existing resources, with partners hoping it will demonstrate how reclaimed renewable energy infrastructure can strengthen community resilience and inspire similar initiatives.

Watch the full video around the donation at https://youtu.be/qIolOCRCzLc?si=_2Ap5hLUDworTu5Q

World Cup scores for pubs in July but restaurant sales flag in the heat #

Football and sunshine carry pubs to 4.2% growth
Restaurants down 1.0% year-on-year, bars slip 5.0%
Hospitality enjoys best month of the year but growth lags inflation

England’s long run in the football World Cup helped Britain’s managed pub groups to solid sales growth in July, the new NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.
 
The Tracker – produced by NIQ, powered by CGA intelligence, in association with RSM – shows pubs’ like-for-like sales were up by 4.2% from the same month in 2025. Footfall was boosted by five big games for England during July, plus the semi-final and final, which sent fans flocking to pubs from hours before kick-offs. It was comfortably the highest growth recorded by the Tracker for pubs this year.
 
NIQ’s separate daily trading data shows how average drinks sales nearly doubled on the day of England’s semi-final with Argentina (Wednesday 15 July), with big spikes on several other matchdays. Pubs also benefited from long periods of hot weather in Britain, which packed beer gardens and terraces throughout July.
 
However, while the World Cup was a big plus for many pubs, it did little for hospitality venues that didn’t screen games. Restaurant groups’ sales fell by 1.0% year-on-year, following a 0.7% drop in June, as some consumers chose to drink out rather than eat out. Sales slipped by 5.0% for both bar groups and the on-the-go sector.
 
Across hospitality as a whole, managed groups recorded year-on-year growth of 1.4% in July. It represents the strongest month of 2026 so far, and the third-best result in the Tracker since the start of 2025. Nevertheless, growth remains below the UK’s rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index. Hospitality has not secured real-terms LFL monthly growth since April 2025.
 
July’s results were notably stronger when new openings are factored in. Including venues that were launched in the last 12 months, the Tracker shows sales rose by 4.7% last month – a sign that many operators and investors remain confident enough to expand despite multiple trading headwinds.
 
For the fourth month in a row, trading in London ran ahead of the rest of the country in July. Groups’ like-for-like sales rose by 2.2% within the M25, and by 1.0% further afield.
 
Karl Chessell, Director - Hospitality Operators and Food, EMEA at NIQ, said: “July’s figures show the popularity and special role of pubs during big national moments like the World Cup. However, it’s clear that many sales were not incremental but taken from other occasions and channels, with fans saving their cash for big games or cutting back on meals out. Similarly, while pubs with outdoor spaces benefited from July’s weather, the exceptionally high temperatures may have kept some consumers at home or led them elsewhere. We are also seeing signs of a tightening of spending in August after the end of the World Cup, and the trading environment remains difficult.”
 
Saxon Moseley, Head of Leisure and Hospitality at RSM UK, said: “Wet led pubs were the standout winner of last month’s World Cup finals, recording a significant uptick in trade at the expense of the wider hospitality industry. At a time when households remain selective about discretionary spending, people are clearly continuing to make room in their budgets for shared experiences and social occasions. For hospitality businesses, the challenge now is turning that occasional event-driven demand into regular footfall through differentiated experiences and perceived value for money. As the new Prime Minister continues to make strides in addressing the unfair tax burden on the industry and consumer confidence improves, we expect to see operators’ optimism improve as we look ahead to the latter half of 2026.” 

Are you working with the Apprentice of the Year? #

FEA opens Conference awards entries – including Charitable Endeavour gong

In the run up to FEA’s annual industry conference, the association has opened entries for two of the prestigious awards that are presented at the event. The Apprentice of the Year recognises the individuals who have gone the extra mile as they establish themselves within the foodservice equipment sector. The Charitable Endeavour Award celebrates the fantastic and sometimes outrageous efforts that companies, teams and individuals from the industry undertake to raise funds for worthy causes.

Is the apprentice of the year in your team? The award is a huge boost, not only for the winner but also for their company. It’s about applauding people eager to learn new skills and forge a career in the industry– and it’s about the companies who foster a workplace environment that encourages them to do that.

The apprentice award is supported by industry stalwart and John Gilbert, a lifelong supporter of developing and encouraging the next generation of foodservice equipment professionals. Along with the prestige of winning, the winner takes home a £1,000 cash prize and a bursary covering the cost of participating in FEA’s Principles of Foodservice (PFS) and Certified Food Service Professional (CFSP) courses.  Entrants can be new starters, apprentices, and trainees from any discipline within a FEA member company, and all those making the shortlist will receive an invitation to the Conference and the Gala dinner, with overnight accommodation and travel costs. 

To enter the Apprentice of the Year award, click here (tinyurl.com/FEAapprenticeoftheyear). The deadline for entries is 18th September.
The Charitable Endeavour Awards, sponsored by Meiko, recognise the effort, dedication, and achievement in supporting charitable causes from foodservice and hospitality businesses during the past 12 months. Submissions can be standalone events or ongoing charitable work. “We’ve seen some incredible achievements in the past few years,” says Emma Brooks, chair of FEA. “One that stands out was the team from Unox who attempted to push a combi oven up Ben Nevis and raised over £20,000 for the Burnt Chef project. But we don’t expect entrants to go that far – any charitable work, however big or small, is worthy of entering so that the industry can celebrate it.”

Click here (tinyurl.com/FEAcharitableendeavouraward) to find out how to enter the Charitable Endeavour Awards. The deadline for entries is September 18th.

The awards are announced during the FEA Industry Conference, which takes place on the 18th-19th November at the Staverton Park Hotel in Northamptonshire. For information about attending the conference, visit the booking page: https://feaconference.co.uk/3/book-places or contact Rob Gibson at the FEA for assistance at Rob.Gibson@FEA.org.uk.

The Foodservice Equipment Association (FEA) is the independent, authoritative voice of the foodservice equipment industry, representing over 175 companies who supply, service and maintain all types of commercial catering equipment - from utensils to full kitchen schemes. For more information on FEA visit www.fea.org.uk

Every school meal is a big deal: AiP launches refreshed brand shaped by pupil insight & food trends #

Alliance in Partnership part of Sodexo, is entering the new academic year with a refreshed brand and enhanced menus designed around pupil insight, emerging food trends and nutritional expertise, while building on its longstanding commitment to nutritious food, pupil wellbeing and strong school and community partnerships.
 
Under its promise that Every School Meal is a Big Deal, AiP’s refreshed offer is more than a new visual identity, it builds on AiP’s commitment to delivering quality, fresh, locally sourced and seasonal food and finds new ways to make mealtimes more exciting, relevant and engaging.
 
Menus have been redeveloped by AiP’s chefs and nutrition experts using pupil insight and emerging food trends to create school dining experiences that pupils genuinely want to engage with – while continuing to provide the familiar, nutritious meals that children know and love.
 
Traditional favourites remain for those who prefer the familiar, while new hero dishes offer pupils the chance to discover new flavours and food concepts. The menus now include new hero dishes that are inspired by contemporary food trends while remaining familiar and accessible for pupils.
 
For primary schools, new hero dishes include a chilli bean stack, bringing together plant-based protein and bold flavours, and a Greek meatball bake served with skin-on, no-waste ultimate roasties. 

For secondary schools, new dishes include a spicy adobo roti chicken wrap with sesame slaw, bringing Filipino-inspired flavours to a familiar wrap format, and gochujang lentil & bean bolognese with herby stalk spaghetti, inspired by flavours gaining popularity online. 
For AiP, the refreshed brand also reinforces its role as a long-term partner to schools and Trusts, recognising that school catering can contribute to much more than the lunchtime experience.
 
Backed by Sodexo’s expertise and resources, AiP supports schools with sustainability initiatives including food waste reduction, carbon reduction activity, responsible sourcing and pupil environmental education, delivering positive impact both in and beyond the classroom.
 
Rebecca Bridgement, managing director AiP, said: “School catering today is about much more than serving lunch. It's about creating food experiences that reflect modern tastes, support health and wellbeing, and help children make the most of their school day. This is why our refreshed brand is built around a simple belief: every meal is a big deal.
 
“The refreshed offer brings together pupil insight, nutritional expertise and food trends to create dishes that children are excited to try. We want to introduce new flavours and experiences while keeping meals familiar, accessible and enjoyable.
 
“As expectations around school food continue to evolve, our responsibility is to keep listening, keep adapting and continue finding ways to make every mealtime an opportunity to discover something new."
 
Alongside serving nutritious food to fuel pupils through the day, AiP also supports schools with initiatives such as healthy eating workshops and assemblies, curriculum-linked enrichment, careers fairs, work experience, community volunteering as well as supporting local charity partnerships.
 
The refreshed brand will be introduced throughout the academic year across AiP’s estate of more than 400 primary and secondary schools, bringing together the personal service of a specialist education caterer with the scale, expertise and investment of Sodexo.
 
The ambition is simple: help pupils eat well, learn well and thrive – while making every mealtime an opportunity to discover something new.

apetito | Wiltshire Farm Foods CEO Ian Stone appointed to Food and Drink Federation Board #

apetito | Wiltshire Farm Foods is proud to announce that Chief Executive Officer, Ian Stone, has been appointed to the Board of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), the leading trade association representing the UK food and drink industry.

With 38 years of experience in the industry spanning food manufacturing, foodservice, B2B and consumer markets, Ian is widely recognised for his strategic leadership and longstanding commitment to championing the sector.

Ian has also made a significant contribution to industry representation, previously serving on the Board of the British Frozen Food Federation for more than a decade, including roles as both Chairman and President.

Commenting on this appointment, Ian Stone said:
"I'm delighted and privileged to have been appointed to the Board of the Food and Drink Federation. I'm proud to bring the perspective of apetito and the sectors we serve, where we see first-hand how food can improve health, wellbeing and quality of life, while contributing to the wider industry and helping shape its future.

“The UK food and drink industry plays a vital role in the nation's economy, communities and food security, and I believe collaboration across our sector has never been more important.

“I'm looking forward to working alongside my fellow Board members to help address the challenges and opportunities facing the industry and support the FDF's work in ensuring the sector continues to innovate, grow and thrive."

Karen Betts OBE, Chief Executive of the FDF, added:
“I’m delighted to welcome Ian to FDF’s Board of Directors. With nearly four decades of varied experience in food and drink manufacturing, Ian brings valuable expertise to FDF’s Board, and I’m confident he will play a key role in ensuring that FDF successfully serves the needs of our broad membership.  Alongside Gerald Mason, our President, and our other Board Directors, I’m looking forward to working with Ian to ensure the UK has the secure, resilient, dynamic and competitive food and drink manufacturing industry that we need.”

This appointment reflects apetito's commitment to playing a leading role in the UK's food and drink sector, while making a real difference to the lives of some of society's most vulnerable people every day.

Sodexo welcomes Janet Wigley as CEO for Corporate Services #

Sodexo UK & Ireland has announced the appointment of Janet Wigley as CEO for Corporate Services UK, strengthening its leadership and a move which will drive growth in the delivery of workplace services, facilities management and food services to some of the world’s most recognisable brands. 

With over 30 years of experience, Janet has held multiple leadership roles within the industry and has a proven track record in strengthening client relationships and leading operational excellence across hospitality and workplace services in corporate settings, defence, government, offshore, schools and universities. 

Janet’s appointment builds on Sodexo’s continued investment in food and FM services for its corporate clients which includes driving the digital and tech-enabled transformation of its services and supporting its clients with tailored, competitive service offers. 

Jean Renton, CEO, Sodexo UK & Ireland, said: “We know our clients choose Sodexo for our ability to deliver tech-enabled services that improve the workplace for their people and drive productivity. Janet joins Sodexo with a wealth of expertise across workplace services and building high-performing teams. Her proven leadership capabilities will be instrumental in delivering excellence for our clients operating within Business & Industries, and in supporting our wider strategic goals.” 

Janet Wigley, CEO for Corporate Services UK, said: “Sodexo has strong foundations within the Business & Industries sector, talented teams delivering services to incredible clients and an exciting future. I look forward to meeting even more clients and working with colleagues across the business to build on that momentum, to continue to create high-performing workplaces for our clients, to strengthen our partnerships and to drive further growth within the Business & Industries segment.” 

Janet is also passionate about people and talent development. She made an impact both domestically and globally chairing and supporting Employee Resource Groups, Women in Leadership programme's and mentorships. 

Sodexo’s Business & Industries division delivers workplace services, facilities management and food services to some of the world’s most recognisable brands. Its teams have expertise operating across a range of different environments in the corporate sector, including headquarters, regional offices, data centres, manufacturing centres and research and development hubs, in sectors as diverse as professional services, financial services, pharmaceuticals, media and technology.

Culinary talent takes centre stage at Restaurant Associates’ inaugural Chef of the Year competition #

Fourteen finalists showcased creativity, craftsmanship and composure, with six chefs recognised across the Junior and Senior categories

Restaurant Associates has celebrated the exceptional skill, imagination and ambition of its chefs at the company’s first Chef of the Year competition, staged in a professional competition kitchen in King’s Cross, London. The event brought together 14 finalists from across the business for two demanding heats designed to test far more than technical ability alone.

Competing in Junior and Senior categories, the chefs were challenged to turn a mystery basket of seasonal ingredients into accomplished dishes under intense time pressure. Every element was assessed against the standards that define Restaurant Associates’ food philosophy, including flavour, seasonality, sustainability, nutritional balance, commercial awareness, technical execution, organisation and professionalism.

The competition created a high-profile platform for chefs to step beyond their day-to-day roles, express their individual cooking style and learn from leading culinary experts. It also reinforced the business’s commitment to building careers through meaningful development opportunities, recognition and competition experience.

An expert judging panel brought together Bake Off: The Professionals judge Cherish Finden, Lake District Farmers Master Butcher Russell Dodd, and previous Compass Chefs of the Year Gary Wolfe and Lee Redman. The panel praised the level of technical skill, craftsmanship and creativity demonstrated across both heats.

Following a closely contested day, six chefs were recognised across the two categories:

Restaurant Associates Chef of the Year 2026 results

Junior Chef of the Year
1st Adarsh Nair
2nd Irena Rauckyte
3rd Danielle Vardy

Senior Chef of the Year
1st Dang Pham
2nd Jack Shaw
3rd Alex Milligan

The successful chefs will now progress to represent Restaurant Associates at the Compass Chef of the Year competition this autumn, taking their talent onto an even bigger stage.

“Our first Restaurant Associates Chef of the Year competition was a powerful demonstration of the talent within our business. The finalists combined technical discipline with creativity, commercial awareness and a real sense of personal identity on the plate. Competitions like this give chefs the space to test themselves, learn from others and build the confidence to lead the future of our industry. Every finalist should feel immensely proud of what they achieved.”
Adam Thomason, Culinary Director, Restaurant Associates

Leaders call for support as rising costs and falling visits hammer confidence #

Hospitality leaders’ optimism remains low despite a boost from the football World Cup and hot weather, the latest Business Confidence Survey from NIQ and Zonal reveals.
 
The poll shows just 35% of leaders feel optimistic about prospects for their business over the next 12 months. It is a drop of 2 percentage points from the last survey in May, and 16 percentage points down from the start of 2026. The number of leaders feeling optimistic about the future of hospitality in general is virtually flat quarter-on-quarter at 21%.
 
Footfall, sales and profits squeezed
While football fans packed pubs during England’s long run at the World Cup, the tournament was much less beneficial to restaurants and other venues not screening games. Around two in five (41%) leaders say their footfall has declined recently – more than the number (34%) who say it has increased. Excessive heat may also have cut some consumers’ trips to eat and drink out.
 
Fewer visits and cautious consumer spending have increased the pressure on venues’ sales and profits, the Business Confidence Survey shows. Only 41% of leaders reported that their quarterly revenue had increased year-on-year, despite higher prices in most venues. Just over half (52%) said either that their profitability had dropped, or that their business was currently running at a loss or unviable.
 
Relief needed on taxes and inflation
Fragile confidence levels highlight the urgent need for greater support for hospitality. Leaders have welcomed the government’s relief on business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues, and are hopeful that more help will follow from new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Nearly half (47%) of leaders surveyed by NIQ and Zonal said they were optimistic that the new leadership will benefit hospitality, while 26% are pessimistic.
 
However, much more support is needed across a range of areas including taxes and high inflation in labour, energy and food costs, the survey shows. Leaders said their employment costs have risen by an average of 10.7% per person in just two years, and 85% say higher labour costs are a concern for their business. The same proportion (85%) have seen their electricity, gas and/or oil prices increase in the last three months, following energy shocks related to constricted oil supply.
 
Meanwhile, more than two thirds (69%) are concerned by inflation in food and drink prices, which are likely to rise further this year amid uncertainty about geopolitics and the impact of heatwaves on production. Nearly as many (67%) are concerned about VAT, and high energy prices and interest rates are among many other worries.
 
The Business Confidence Survey indicates that challenges are especially acute in the independent hospitality sector at the moment. Just 16% of leaders of single-site operators are optimistic about the prospects for their business in the next year.
 
Karl Chessell, director - hospitality operators and food, EMEA at NIQ, said: “The World Cup and hot weather should have boosted hospitality this Summer, but any benefits have been outweighed by relentless challenges. Falling visits and rising costs are a hugely damaging combination and it is no surprise to see that leaders’ confidence is running so low – especially among smaller businesses. With conflicts and the climate fuelling market volatility, there is little respite in sight on inflation.
 
“More positively, there are encouraging signs of support from the new Prime Minister, and the forthcoming Budget could be a lifeline for thousands of hospitality businesses and jobs. From VAT to rates to National Insurance contributions to alcohol duty, there are many levers that the government can immediately pull to ease the pressure on operators. Doing so would quickly unlock investment and new jobs and help kickstart the economic growth that the country needs.”
 
Tim Chapman, Chief Commercial Officer at Zonal, said: “What is most striking about this research is that, despite the challenging operating environment, just how much operators are continuing to invest where they can – in their estates, in their teams, in technology, and in the experiences that keep guests coming back.
 
“That being said, there’s no hiding from the fact that confidence in the sector is flat at best. Recent Government moves, however, such as business rates relief, are creating some optimism as we look to rest of 2026 and beyond.
 
“Hopes appear to be further boosted by the possibility of a VAT cut for the sector in this autumn’s budget – something which the sector has fought long and hard for and which is very well supported by both operators and consumers alike.”