Fast-food franchising in the UK: Resilience but growing pressure
ArticleThe fast-food industry has always demonstrated resilience, but pressures on profitability are growing.
Finding the right ingredients for growth in your F&B business

The sector has remained remarkably resilient and still faces significant challenges and headwinds. But, with consumer behaviour, habits, and priorities evolving quickly, now is the time to capitalise on trends ranging from health and wellness to sustainability to plant-based products, and unlock growth.
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Food and Drink Federation
The fast-food industry has always demonstrated resilience, but pressures on profitability are growing.
UK food and beverage (F&B) M&A activity remained resilient through the third quarter of 2025, even as volumes softened slightly from the highs of Q2. A total of 49 transactions were completed during the period, representing a modest 6% decline quarter-on-quarter but still comfortably above the trailing average of 45 deals and ahead of levels seen in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025.
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