Foodie culture and an increasing desire by British consumers to eat out or sample lean cuisine has driven strong growth in the food and drink retail industry. Our list has uncovered firms doing everything from catering, nightclubs and vending machines to drive their business into growth despite the troubled economic times. 

The list is based on company data from Jordans and excludes wholesalers and franchise operators. The turnover figures are based on compound growth for the previous three years. 

1. Lux Management and Investments

Headquarters: London

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 74

The holding company behind Caffé Concerto, a chain of Italian dining rooms across central London, which also offers cake making services.

2. Jamie’s Italian

Headquarters: Bath

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 40 

Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver’s chain of rustic-style Italian restaurants has grown exponentially since being founded in 2008. Since then it has opened more than 30 restaurants including international offerings in Russia, Singapore and Dubai.

3. Wasabi

Headquarters: London

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 33 

The first branch of London-based Wasabi opened in 2003 by found Dong Hyun Kim. There are now 25 stores across the capital and plans for national and international expansions in the works.

4. Harbour and Jones

Headquarters: London

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 29 

Harbour and Jones is a catering, hospitality and food services company based in London. It also runs The Restaurant at St Paul’s Cathedral.

5. Drake and Morgan

Headquarters: London

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 25 

Drake and Morgan owns and operates a chain of stylish bars and restaurants in London, with a focus on cocktails and seasonal, locally-sourced food. It recently attracted private equity investment from Bowmark Capital.

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6. Templeton Holdings

Headquarters: Birmingham

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 23 

The ultimate parent company behind, among others, San Carlo restaurants. The chain has outlets in six cities and is continuing to show strong growth.

7. Rollover Holdings

Headquarters: Slough, Berkshire

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 23

Rollover is the UK’s leading supplier of hot dogs. Along with the food itself, Rollover provides heating and serving equipment, as well as nachos, popcorn and other tasty treats.

8. Patisserie Holdings

Headquarters: Birmingham

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 22 

The holding firm behind increasingly popular national cafe chain Patisserie Valerie, started by Belgian founder Madam Valerie in 1926. The firm also offers bespoke cake services.

9. AIP Catering 

Headquarters: West Midlands

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 15 

AIP catering is a specialist in supplying food solutions in the education sector.

10. Wilson Vale Catering Management Limited

Headquarters: West Midlands

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 14

Wilson Vale is a privately owned niche catering company that works within the B&1 sector and education throughout the UK, contributing to client welfare strategy and enhancing motivation and retention through food.

11. The Brookwood Partnership Limited

Headquarters: Surrey

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 12

Founded in 1996, Brookwood is unique in only providing its catering services to 94 independently run schools across the UK.

12. Kafevend Holdings Limited

Headquarters: West Sussex

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 11

Kafevend is one of the fastest-growing workplace vending machine suppliers that supply hot drinks, coffee vending machines, plus snack vending machines to over 11,000 companies across the UK.

13. Glendola Leisure (Holdings) Limited

Headquarters: Middlesex

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 10

Glendola Leisure is a privately owned bar, club and restaurant company, whose portfolio includes a number of venues in London, including Waxy O’Connor’s, the award-winning Irish pub in West End, the World’s End pub in Camden, and the Rainforest Cafe.

14. Mint Group Holdings Limited

Headquarters: London

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 8

Mint Group is known for pairing bars and clubs with live music, as is evident with their clubs Infernos, the Elk Bar and KOKO, which has become one of London’s premier live music venues.

15. 7 DAY Catering Limited

Headquarters: Suffolk

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 6

Founded in 1990, 7 Day Catering is an independent Contract catering company, with over 170 clients in the Business, Industry and Education sectors.

16. Beds & Bars Limited

Headquarters: London

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 5

Since its launch in 1964 with one traditional English Pub, it grew to include the St. Christopher’s Inns hostel chain, Belushi’s bars and a number of other well-known brands.

17. McColl’s Retail Group Limited

Headquarters: Essex

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 5

McColl’s Retail Group is a neighbourhood retailer in the independent managed sector, running 1,268 convenience and newsagent stores.

18. Abouzakki Holdings Limited

Headquarters: London

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 4

Its core and original restaurant, Maroush, is a Lebanese cuisine restaurant that opened more than 31 years ago.

19. BAA Bar Group PLC

Headquarters: Merseyside

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 3

Baa Bar’s sole package is partying and put a main emphasis on their shooters. It’s free to hire the premises for private use and their alcohol is sourced from all over the world.

20. Caledonian Heritable Limited

Headquarters: Edinburgh

Three-year compound sales growth (%): 3

Ryan’s Bar and The Cellar restaurant have been at the centre of Edinburgh’s West End for over 20 years. In recent years, however, the company separated it into three different havens – Coffee Shop, Main Bar and steak and seafood Cellar restaurant.