Retailers across the UK are innovating in the expanding food-to-go market, valued at £23.4 billion by 2027.
- Fortnum & Mason introduced its first café counter in its Piccadilly flagship, offering hot drinks and pastries.
- Holland & Barrett expanded its H&Bean takeaway service to London, with unique health-driven beverages.
- Hotel Chocolat launched bakery and hot food concessions in Yorkshire stores, enhancing its food-to-go options.
- WHSmith and Ralph Lauren have both launched new café formats, expanding their existing food offerings.
The UK food-to-go market is undergoing significant transformation as various retailers enter this space with innovative offerings. Traditionally dominated by sandwich chains and supermarkets, this market is estimated to reach a value of £23.4 billion by 2027, according to IGD. Such growth prospects have encouraged different retailers, from department stores to fashion brands, to explore and expand their presence in this sector.
Fortnum & Mason, the luxury department store, entered the food-to-go scene by launching its first café counter in August at its Piccadilly flagship. This introduction offers a range of hot drinks, cold beverages, pastries, and soft serve ice cream. This marks their first venture dedicated to takeaway hot drinks, enhancing their existing Bagel Bar which was launched last October. According to fresh buyer Zoe Norman, the expansion aims to cater to a broader customer base, offering coffee and morning goods to accommodate the demand before the lunchtime rush.
Holland & Barrett, a retailer focusing on health and wellness, has expanded its H&Bean takeaway service with a new café concession at its London Victoria Street store. Initial trials were conducted at their Birmingham flagship since November. Their menu includes unique hot and cold beverages, featuring organic teas and coffees enriched with vitamins and health ingredients. Speciality drinks such as ‘Calm Latte’ combine matcha, coconut milk, ashwagandha, and vitamin B3 to support energy levels and reduce fatigue.
In a move to strengthen its food-to-go offerings, Hotel Chocolat has introduced its first bakery and hot food concessions. Available at three Yorkshire sites since the summer, these concessions offer a selection of sweet and savoury dishes developed in-house. The range includes items such as Chocolatier’s Carrot Cake and Caribbean Chicken Curry, drawing from Hotel Chocolat’s restaurant recipes.
WHSmith has ventured into the café arena with its Smith’s Kitchen format, launched in August in Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton. This follows the prior launch of their Smith’s Family Kitchen food-to-go range. The café offers a variety of beverages and freshly made food items. The managing director Andrew Harrison noted record food sales weeks following these initiatives as part of their expansion across fresh, ambient, and drinks portfolios.
Ralph Lauren’s venture in the food-to-go market is rooted in its Ralph’s Coffee initiative, now a permanent fixture on London’s New Bond Street. This began as a pop-up in 2019 and offers an assortment of coffee and teas with sweet treats. A second location operates from a distinctive 1965 Citroen truck at Bicester Village, demonstrating Ralph Lauren’s creative approach in retail innovation.
The food-to-go market is rapidly evolving as diverse retailers innovate and expand their offerings, showing significant growth potential.
