Here you will find sources of information such as market research (statistics, trends, developments), key companies, trade magazines, newsletters, and Internet sources.
This guide will be useful to anyone starting a business within the fast food and snacks industry and also for those wanting to further their knowledge within this area.
Start-Up Information
The Cobra database contains practical fact-sheets on all aspects of starting, running and managing a small business – including information on writing business plans, marketing, company structures etc.
It also covers the practical aspects of how to start and run particular types of businesses – outlining necessary skills, regulations, licences and legislation etc. and highlights other sources of information and advice available.
Business Opportunity Profiles (BOP)
| Cake Shop | BOP563 |
| Café | BOP516 |
| Chocolatier | BOP279 |
| Coffee Shop | BOP391 |
| Craft Bakery | BOP064 |
| Delicatessen | BOP271 |
| Fast Food Takeaway | BOP165 |
| Fish & Chip Shop | BOP542 |
| Homemade Cake & Biscuit Maker | BOP141 |
| Ice Cream Van | BOP129 |
| Mobile Coffee Cart | BOP552 |
| Mobile Takeaway | BOP086 |
| Restaurant | BOP021 |
| Sandwich Delivery Round | BOP295 |
| Sandwich Shop | BOP140 |
| Speciality Cake Maker | BOP346 |
| Sweet Shop | BOP462 |
| Tea Room | BOP087 |
Sector Update
| Food and Grocery Retail | SEC008 |
| Food and Grocery Retail | SRG011 |
| Restaurants and Foodservice | SEC072 |
| Restaurants and Foodservice | SRG003 |
| Retail Food and Drink | SYN001 |
| Wholesale Food and Drink | SEC042 |
| Wholesale Food and Drink | SEC079 |
| Wholesale Food and Drink | SEC090 |
Business Information Factsheets (BIF)
| Food Safety Inspections – A Guide To | BIF503 |
| Food Safety Legislation – An Introduction To | BIF435 |
| Food Information & Labelling Requirements – A Guide To | BIF182 |
| Registration of Food Business Premises | BIF486 |
| Food Safety Act 1990 – A Guide To The | BIF070 |
| Food Hygiene Regulations In The UK – A Guide To | BIF193 |
| Food Safety Management System – An Introduction To | BIF502 |
Related Legal Regulations
| Food Safety Act 1990 | LEG004 |
| Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations | LEG567 |
Market Research & Statistics
If you are planning on starting a business you will need to be aware of the latest trends, developments and opportunities within your industry which can all be found from market research.
Market research also covers market size and forecasts, consumer demographics and attitudes, the key players and products and will often include SWOT and PEST analysis showing areas of strength, weakness, opportunities etc.
- Biscuit Production
- Cafes & Coffee Shops
- Coffee Processing
- Coffee, Tea and Spices Wholesale
- Chocolate & Confectionery Production
- Confectionery Wholesaling
- Fast Food Franchises in the UK
- Full-Service Restaurants
- Ice Cream Production
- Juice & Smoothie Bars
- Pizza Delivery & Takeaway
- Potato Crisps & Snacks Production
- Prepared Meal Manufacturing
- Soft Drink Production
- Takeaway & Fast-Food Restaurants
- Tea Processing
- Attitudes Towards Casual Dining
- Attitudes Towards Cooking In The Home
- Attitudes Towards Healthy Eating
- Attitudes Towards Home-Delivery and Takeaway
- Attitudes to Low/No/Reduced Sugar Soft Drinks
- Attitudes Towards Lunch Out-of-Home
- Attitudes Towards Premium Soft Drinks
- Attitudes Towards Pub Catering
- Attitudes Towards Sugar and Sweeteners
- Burger and Chicken Restaurants
- Cake, Cake Bars and Sweet Baked Goods
- Carbonated Soft Drinks
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Coffee Shops
- Consumer Snacking
- Crisps, Savoury Snacks and Nuts
- Eating Out Review
- Eating Out: The Decision Making Process
- Ethnic Restaurants And Takeaways
- Global Food and Drink Trends
- Ice Cream
- Kid’s Snacking
- Pizza and Italian Restaurants
- Pizzas
- Ready Meals and Ready-to-Cook Foods
- Savoury Biscuits
- Sweet Biscuits and Snack Bars
- Sugar and Gum Confectionery
- The Future of Eating Out
- The Future of Quick Service Restaurants
- World Cuisines
- Cafés/Bars in the United Kingdom
- Chocolate Confectionery in the United Kingdom
- Coffee in the United Kingdom
- Consumer Foodservice in the United Kingdom
- Consumer Foodservice By Location in the United Kingdom
- Fast Food in Western Europe
- Fast Food in Asia Pacific
- Fast Food In Eastern Europe
- Fast Food in Latin America
- Fish and Seafood in the United Kingdom
- Full-Service Restaurants in the United Kingdom
- Gum in the United Kingdom
- Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts in the United Kingdom
- Limited Service Restaurants in the United Kingdom
- Nuts in the United Kingdom
- Packaged food in the United Kingdom
- Ready Meals in the United Kingdom
- RTD Coffee in the United Kingdom
- RTD Tea in the United Kingdom
- Self Service Cafeterias in the United Kingdom
- Street Stalls/Kiosks in the United Kingdom
- Sugar Confectionery in the United Kingdom
- Sugar and Sweeteners in the United Kingdom
- Savoury Snacks In the United Kingdom
- Sweet Biscuits, Snack Bars and Fruit Snacks in the United Kingdom
- Tea in the United Kingdom
- Europe – Confectionery
- Europe – Savory Snacks
- Europe Snack Bar Market – Growth, Trends and Forecasts 2018 – 2023
- Global Coffee Market – Growth, Trends and Forecasts (2019 – 2024)
- Global Coffee Pods and Capsules Market – Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019 – 2024)
- Global Confectionery
- Global Confectionery Market 2021 – 2027
- Global Fast Food Market 2020 – 2027
- Global Frozen Pizza Market, 2017-2023
- Global Fruit Snack Market – Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2019 – 2024)
- Global Organic Snacks Market, 2018-2025
- Global – Savory Snacks
- Global Snack Bar Market – Growth, Trends and Forecasts 2019 – 2024
- Global Sweet Biscuit Market – Growth, Trends, And Forecast (2019 – 2024)
- Healthy Snacks Market Analysis and Segment Forecasts To 2025
- Savory Snacks Market – Growth, Trends and Forecasts 2019 – 2024
- United Kingdom – Confectionery
- United Kingdom – Savory Snacks
Local Data Online
Provides a birds-eye view of the makeup and complexity of the retail and leisure offering in a chosen location.
Review key trends over time:
- Vacancy rates
- Occupancy trends
- Retail mix
Understand demand profiles through demographic data such as:
- Employment statistics
- Average weekly earnings
- Crime rates
- Unemployment
- House prices
Also, contact details and individual reports of companies in the digital communications industry are available from our electronic sources: Market IQ.
Trade Magazines & Newsletters
Useful for gaining inside knowledge, recent trends, industry news, company profiles, reviews of new products and services. Some contain annual reviews and company contact lists.
The Caterer (formerly known as Caterer & hotelkeeper) (Reed Business Information)
Trade publication aimed at restaurant managers, chefs, hotel owners and others in the hospitality industry. Covers catering equipment, company news, trends in foods and drink, foodservice, suppliers, profiles, job adverts, restaurants and hotels for sale.
Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine (formerly known as Fryer & Fast Food) (ChippyChat)
The Fish & Chip and fast food magazine for the UK. Covers news and events within the industry with recipes, trends and developments. All magazines freely available from the website.
Fish Friers Review (NFFF)
Journal of the National Federation of Fish Friers. Covers the fish and chip shop trade, including fish restaurants, frying & catering equipment, potatoes etc. Carries adverts for businesses for sale with news and comment, with a regular feature on legislative matters. You can find reviews here.
Business News & Journals
In order to find the latest news on your topic it is always worth searching Factiva, Business Source Complete and EMIS.
You will find articles from specialist business and academic journals, as well as newspapers and magazines. You may also find market research reports and case studies. As well as profiles of leading industry figures.
You will also find articles covering recent developments, and predicting future trends in your industry.
The Grocer: Directory of Manufacturers & Suppliers 2020 (William Reed Business Media Ltd) [(B) DIR 380.1456402541 BUS]
Directory of food and drink manufacturers and suppliers; also has a list of food & drink products and a brand index.
Internet Sources
Websites containing free sources of industry statistics, information and contacts.
The Beverage Standards Association
Trade association for suppliers and retailers in the beverage industry, including coffee shops. It provides news, information and a directory relevant to coffee shop owners.
Big Hospitality (Formerly Restaurant Magazine)
This is a trade publication aimed at owners and managers of restaurants that features trade news, updates and reviews.
The British Sandwich and Food To Go Association
Represents businesses in the sandwich industry, providing news, events and a supplier directory.
Café Life Association
Membership-based organisation for businesses that operate in the café market. Provides a few basic fact sheets but gives a suppliers directory.
The European Snacks Association
Concerned with the development and improvement of potato chips, edible nuts and snack food products in Europe.
The Food and Drink Federation
A membership association for the food and drink industry, including chocolatiers. It provides industry updates, information and guidance for its members. Many free reports etc. are available also.
The Food Standards Agency
An independent Government department that provides businesses with news, reports, guidance and information in relation to food safety.
The Ice Cream Alliance (ICA)
The trade association for the ice cream sector. It provides advice on obtaining equipment, ice cream brands, new technology and developments in the sector. Includes a directory of suppliers.
The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO)
Gives an analysis of the world cocoa market. Reviews recent developments in the market with long term trends and forecasts.
Just Food
A website providing access to reports, news and event information from all sectors of the food industry. Includes an international directory of products and suppliers.
National Federation of Fish Fryers (NFFF)
Represents fish and chip shop proprietors and offers trade training courses specially designed for new entrants to the trade. Includes an associate members directory, suppliers etc.
The Nationwide Caterers’ Association (NCASS)
A trade association for both static and mobile caterers. With news and fact sheets on various topics including starting up (takeaway, sandwich van, fish and chip shop etc.), insurance, training, VAT etc. With catering contacts.
Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Association
The trade association for pizza, pasta and Italian food businesses. Offers a range of member benefits including a regular magazine and free access to a legal helpline. Features a free online directory of suppliers of relevant products and services within the industry.
Seafish
The UK’s seafood body. It works on a cross-industry level with fishermen, processors, wholesalers, seafood farmers, fish friers, caterers and retailers. Gives latest news, policy reforms, nutrition information, recipes etc.
UK Hospitality
Represents the broad hospitality sector – covering everything from bars, coffee shops, contract catering, hotels, nightclubs, visitor attractions and other leisure venues.
UK Tea & Infusions Association
An independent non-profit making body dedicated to promoting tea and herbal infusions; providing services and support of a technical, scientific and regulatory nature to the tea industry. Works closely with several large national and international food bodies to ensure that the quality of tea imported into the European Union meets the highest possible standards as regulated by law. Includes a directory of tea related businesses and venues.
Please note that every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, however some recently acquired items may since have been added to the collection. Please ask for help at the enquiry desk.
Images by The Style PA, Sweetbeetandgreenbean, dblstripe under a Creative Commons license