Who Are the UK’s Biggest Equipment Manufacturers?

For a second consecutive year, Foodservice Equipment Journal (a British publication similar to FER) has ranked the United Kingdom’s Top 10 largest manufacturers and suppliers of catering (aka foodservice) equipment.

Despite Brexit-fueled economic pressure and increased operating expenses, the top 10 collectively posted annual sales of $797.82 million in 2017. The number represents year-on-year growth of 9.5%. In 2016, the top 10 posted growth of 11%.

The 10 companies grew operating profits by 22% year-on-year to $64.17 million, with only two companies reporting losses. One manufacturer did, however, contribute 35% of that profit figure after a record-breaking year.

Six of the 10 are part of companies that are based outside the UK, in Europe or the U.S.  The Top 10, responsible for more than 60% of equipment sales in the UK, are:

• ITW
• AFE
• Welbilt UK
• Rational UK
• Lincat/Middleby
• Winterhalter Ltd.
• Jestic Ltd.
• Electrolux Professional Ltd.
• Meiko UK Ltd.
• Foodservice Equipment Marketing Ltd.

The State of the Nation list only includes companies “whose core business is to manufacture or supply branded heavy duty catering equipment to operators, primarily through a third party intermediary such as a dealer or distributor.” It did not include tableware and light equipment companies that might reach the sales threshold required for this list, such as Neville UK; service and leasing companies such as JLA; or parts companies such as First Choice Catering Spares.

If it had been eligible, Nisbets, the UK’s largest E&S distributor, would have been at No. 1 with 2017 sales of $490 million.