Wendy's and REEF Announce Development Commitment for 700 Delivery Kitchens

The Wendy's Company and REEF – the largest operator of mobility, logistics hubs and kitchens – today announced a new development commitment to open and operate 700 delivery kitchens over the next five years across the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. The commitment builds upon the successful test of eight delivery kitchens in Canada beginning in late 2020. Through this commitment, REEF will become the first Wendy's® franchisee in the United Kingdom.

Wendy's and REEF expect to open approximately 50 delivery kitchens in 2021, with the remainder launched by 2025...

PODCAST: UK Beef Chats Episode 24

This week on UK Beef Chats, Market Report Mike Nesbitt discusses the rise of dead weight prices, shortage of cattle influencing the UK beef market, and plans to remove social distancing restrictions in the UK.

Pilgrim's Pride Acquires Kerry Consumer Foods’ Meats and Meals Business
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation announced that it has executed an acquisition agreement to acquire the Meats and Meals business of Kerry Consumer Foods in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Following the Acquisition, Pilgrim’s will be a leading food company, with a significant value-added protein and integrated prepared foods business anchored by a portfolio of strong brands.

The acquisition, which was unanimously approved by Pilgrim’s Board of Directors, values the acquired businesses at a £680 million (or approximately $952 million based on a 1.40 USD/GBP exchange rate as of June 16, 2021) enterprise value. The purchase amount represents...

Wendy’s Opens Its Doors In the United Kingdom

Wendy’s has arrived in the United Kingdom. After much anticipation, Wendy’s opens its doors in Reading, offering signature US menu items that fans know and love, including the Baconator®, Dave’s Single™, the Spicy Chicken Sandwich and of course the Frosty® dessert. These favorites will be joined by an exclusive range of items only available in the UK, including the Veggie Stack, Veggie Bites, and Avocado Veggie Salad.

Wendy’s selected Reading as it is a great community with a strong employee base and is near a major transportation hub, offering the right amount of foot traffic across dayparts. The Company will continue to...

PODAST: UK Beef Chats Episode 18

This week on UK Beef Chats, Mike Nesbitt gives us an update on UK foodservice reopening and how it's helping rebalance the market, affecting EU Imports and Exports, and more!

Fourth UK Beef Processing Site Gains Access to US Market

A fourth processing site in the UK has won approval to export its beef to the US – marking a major leap forward for the business and for the red meat sector as a whole.

Foyle Food Group in Gloucester is now listed on the official ‘USDA Approved’ list, which means commercial exports of beef can commence with immediate effect.

It comes after extensive work by the company with support from AHDB, Defra, the Food Standards Agency and...

Wingstop Announces Minority Investment in Wingstop UK Franchisee 

Wingstop announced a minority investment in the UK business, which is operated by its UK franchisee, Lemon Pepper Holdings Ltd. This investment follows strong performance in the UK and underscores the brand's confidence in the market as a key growth lever for global expansion.

"We are thrilled to partner with the Lemon Pepper team as they grow their brand presence in the UK, a market with tremendous long-term potential," said Wingstop CFO Michael Skipworth. "We believe this strategic use of our capital will strengthen the development pipeline in that market and I am excited to...

PODCAST: UK Beef Chats Episode 16

This week on UK Beef Chats Mike Nesbitt and Jay Alletto discuss the activity of the UK foodservice industry and how it relates to the beef market, Brexit’s affect on the import market, and more. Featured reporter is Gary Morrison.

PODCAST: UK Beef Chats Episode 13

This week on UK beef chats, Mike Nesbitt and Gary Morrison explain how demand for beef imports are on the rise in the UK, how Chinese demand is causing prices to rise, and more!

PODCAST: UK Beef Chats Episode 11

This week on UK Beef Chats, Market Reporter Mike Nesbitt explains the uptick in seasonal demand for the summer months, touches on the reopening of dining across the UK, and more!

How COVID-19 has Changed Eating Out Over the Last 12 Months In the UK

It’s 12 months since the UK’s first COVID-19 lockdown, and one of the sectors that has been most heavily impacted is hospitality. Here, The NPD Group picks out eight eating out/eating in trends from the pandemic’s first year (March 2020 to February 2021) and suggests how they will unfold as lockdown eases. From a surge in home deliveries to the growth of collection, the rise of eating on a deal, the surge of drive-thru, treating to beat boredom, a doubling of choosing vegan and veggie options, the rise of al fresco dining and a laser-like focus on delivering the best customer service, here’s how COVID-19 has changed the way we eat out (and in).

Delivery: In the 12 months of COVID, delivery’s share of out of home eating has more than doubled

Ordering takeaway main meals for home delivery has been a big part of locked down life and, according to The NPD Group’s consumer data, spend increased...

PODCAST: UK Beef Chats Episode 9

This week on UK Beef Chats, Mike Nesbitt fills us in on the upward momentum of the UK beef market due to demand and supply speculation. He also gives us a look at the categories most affected by this bullish market.

PODCAST: UK Beef Chats Episode 7

This week on UK Beef Chats, Mike Nesbitt fills us in on the UK's plan to ease COVID lockdown restrictions, the affect that will have on wholesale trading, and gives us an update on...

Beef Quarterly Q1 2021: New Drivers in Cattle Innovation

Increasing awareness of the need to improve environmental and social outcomes, together with a growing appetite from investors in animal protein, are creating new opportunities and growth in cattle innovation.

“We believe that research and innovation in the beef industry will continue to evolve but we are currently enabled by two main catalysts that will stimulate this further. Firstly, new investors in the space and secondly, the sustainability drive that not only seeks production improvements but also creates...

PODCAST: UK Beef Chat Episode 4

This week Mike Nesbitt and Jay Alletto are joined by fellow beef market reporters Joe Muldowney, Bill Smith and Gary Morrison. They discuss Valentine's Day's affect on the beef supply chain and...

Issa Brothers and TDR Capital Complete the Acquisition of Asda from Walmart

Walmart Inc., Asda Group Limited, the Issa brothers and TDR Capital have announced that the Issa brothers, founders and co-CEOs of EG Group, a global convenience and forecourts retailer, headquartered in Blackburn, UK, and investment funds managed by TDR Capital LLP, a leading UK-based private equity firm, have completed the acquisition of Asda, Walmart’s wholly-owned UK business, for an enterprise value of £6.8 billion, on a debt-free and cash-free basis.

The Issa brothers and TDR Capital have acquired a majority ownership stake in Asda, while Walmart will...

Londoners Driving Trend for Delivery of Snacks and Coffee

There’s a new food trend emerging in the capital. Latest analysis from The NPD Group shows a significant rise in families in London ordering snacks and coffee delivered to their home. Demand from families for snacking delivered by foodservice operators and delivery platforms like UberEats and Deliveroo increased strongly, up +95% in London in 2020 versus 2019. This is significantly ahead of the +11% increase in orders placed by families across the country as a whole.

London currently represents one quarter of the UK’s snacking via delivery market. Dominic Allport, Insights Director (Foodservice), The NPD Group says “During 2020, London was the only region to see a rise in snacking via delivery. The main reason is the greater use of delivery subscriptions such as...

Livekindly Collective Expands Its Brand Portfolio With the Acquisition of Iceland Foods’ No Meat

LIVEKINDLY Collective, a collection of heritage and start-up brands, announced the acquisition of No Meat, Iceland Foods’ vegan meat alternative company.

“This acquisition is very complementary to our current portfolio further strengthening our position in the frozen sector of the fast-growing plant-based meat category", says Domenico Speciale, General Manager for LIVEKINDLY Collective in the UK. "No Meat has been such an incredible success with...

Meat Industry Reacts to President-Elect Biden's Choice for U.S. Trade Representative

President-elect Joe Biden announced he will nominate House Ways and Means Committee trade lawyer Katherine Tai as U.S. trade representative. Tai’s career at USTR began in 2007 as an associate general counsel. In 2014, she was named chief counsel for China trade enforcement, overseeing disputes between Washington and Beijing at the World Trade Organization. She left that role in 2014 to join House Ways and Means and in 2017 was named chief trade lawyer for Chair Richard Neal (D-MA).

The North American Meat Institute supports the choice. Tai, who would become the first Asian American to hold the role of USTR, speaks fluent mandarin and has experience as...