JJ Foodservice (company)

JJ Food Service
FoundedDecember 23, 1988 (1988-12-23) in London, United Kingdom
FounderMustafa Kiamil
FateActive
Headquarters
London
,
UK
Area served
United Kingdom
Products
RevenueSteady £243.4m[13] (2025)
Steady £11.4m[13] (2025)
Websitejjfoodservice.com

JJ Foodservice (founded as JJ Fast Food Distribution Limited) is a UK-based foodservice wholesaler and distributor. The company supplies food, beverages, packaging, and cleaning products to restaurants and household consumers. The business is open to both trade and the public.[14]

History

JJ Foodservice was founded in 1988 by entrepreneur Mustafa Kiamil, who opened the company's first warehouse in Hornsey, North London.[15][16][17] The company's roots can be traced to 1982 when Kiamil started a burger bar named Jenny's Burgers, which expanded into a chain.[15] To support the chain, Kiamil established a catering delivery business, which soon began supplying other independent restaurants.[18]

JJ Foodservice self-funded its growth and owns its buildings, vehicles, and equipment outright.[19] Growth came through a combination of branch expansion, investment in proprietary technology, and strategic acquisitions. In 2024, it acquired London-based Gatelands Supplies to target the Asian restaurant sector.[20][21]

The company donated free meals to hospitals and care homes.[22][23]

JJ Foodservice launched its own-brand web page featuring 40+ premium brands and 500+ products in September 2022. In the year ending March 2022, more than a third of total sales (36%) came from own-brand products which represented a 20% increase year on year.[24][25][26][27]

In 2024 during the inflationary wave, JJ Foodservice launched its Mix & Save program for restaurants with key brands including P&G Professional, Britvic and Coca-Cola.[28][29] In 2025, JJ won National Wholesaler of the Year in The Grocer's Gold Awards which recognized its introduction of "new and innovative own brand products".[21] In January 2026, it launched a specialist Japanese product range for restaurants,caterers and takeaway operators including sushigrade salmon and other premium fish products such as black cod, yellowfin tuna and yellowtail kingfish, intended for use in sushi and Japanese cuisine.[30][31] In 2026, JJ once again won National Wholesaler of the Year in The Grocer's Gold Awards.[32]

Operations

In the financial year ended 31 March 2025, the company reported turnover of £243,411,300 and net income of £11,423,564.[13] The company has over 800 employees and owns 12 branches as of 2024.[33][34]

JJ has invested in digital services and automation. In 2009, it launched online ordering, and by 2025, self-service kiosks were rolled out in all branches.[35][36] 75% of sales are generated online.[37]

To address driver shortages, the Group encourages more women to become HGV drivers.[38] It has also recruited from Poland.[18] The company equips its truck drivers with devices to track vehicle location, delivery completion, and stock distribution.[19]

Own-brand products

JJ Foodservice has over 600 products out of 4000 total SKUs in its own-label range, including award-winning foods and drinks.[39][40] Categories include oils,[41] desserts,[42] potato products,[43] rice,[44] fish,[45][46] seafood,[47] bakery,[48][49] herbs and spices,[50][51] and sustainable packaging.[52] JJ Foodservice won across five categories at the CCM Chefs' Own-Brand Awards 2025/6.[53] At the 2024 The Grocer New Product Awards, JJ's olive oil won[54] and in 2025, their crunchy chips won.[55] In 2026, JJ Foodservice won awards for three of its own-brand products in the Guild of Fine Food's Great Taste Awards.[56]

References

  1. ↑ Badger, James. "JJ Foodservice launches own brand extra virgin olive oil". The Grocer. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "JJ Foodservice introduces Simit's to sandwich menus and other Turkish foods | Asian Trader". www.asiantrader.biz. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "Best new products for fast food restaurants". The Caterer. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  4. ↑ Buccheri, Rory. "JJ Foodservice launches new premium sushi rice line". The Grocer. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Frozen at Sea Fish Sales Surge by More Than a Third at JJ Foodservice". 22 April 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  6. ↑ Hawthorne, Ellis. "JJ Food Service adds premium seasonal frozen fish range". The Grocer. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  7. ↑ Edmonds, Helen (11 May 2026). "£30 off voucher part of JJ's One-Stop-Shop Fish & Chips campaign". FRY Magazine. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "JJ shakes up sandwich menus with new simit | Public Sector Catering". www.publicsectorcatering.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "Simit sandwich bread launched JJ Foodservice". British Baker. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "JJ Foodservice launches new Signature herbs and spices range | Cash & Carry Management". Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Bisto bouillon for chefs, Picual olive oil and salt and vinegar chips: The best new sauces and seasoning". The Caterer. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "Search for a trade mark". gov.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 "JJ Foodservice Limited Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025", UK.GOV, Companies House
  14. ↑ Gartside, Ben (30 June 2020). "The food wholesaler claiming to supply a quarter of Britain's fish and chip shops". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  15. 1 2 "JJ Foodservice Celebrating 30 years of all-round excellence". Wholesale Manager. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  16. ↑ "JJ FOOD SERVICE LIMITED". Companies House. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  17. ↑ "Turkish Cypriot couple make it onto the 'Rich List 2020'". The London Gazette. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  18. 1 2 Moules, Jonathan (20 January 2006). "The driving workforce behind a successful food distribution group". Financial Times. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  19. 1 2 "Catering for market needs and business efficiency". Financial Times. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  20. ↑ "JJ Foodservice bolsters Asian food offering with Gatelands acquisition". The Caterer. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  21. 1 2 "Grocer Gold Awards 2024: JJ Foodservice is National Wholesaler of the Year". The Grocer. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  22. ↑ "Food company delivers 1,500 free meals to Leeds hospital". Yorkshire Evening Post. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  23. ↑ Smith, Sophie (6 May 2020). "The restaurant wholesaler now delivering food to care homes". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  24. ↑ "JJ Foodservice Launches Own Brand Campaign". Wholesale Manager - The news magazine for the UK wholesale and cash & carry industry. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  25. ↑ "JJ Foodservice starts own brand campaign | Public Sector Catering". www.publicsectorcatering.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  26. ↑ "JJ Foodservice launches own brand campaign | Asian Trader". www.asiantrader.biz. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  27. ↑ Moss, Edward (20 September 2022). "JJ Foodservice Launches Own Brand Campaign". Chippy Chat. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  28. ↑ Buccheri, Rory. "JJ Foodservice launches new mix & save promotion to boost customer flexibility". The Grocer. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  29. ↑ Buccheri, Rory. "JJ Foodservice expands Mix & Save promotion to keep supporting restaurants". The Grocer. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  30. ↑ Houlton, Cara. "JJ Foodservice launches specialist Japanese range". The Grocer. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  31. ↑ Hill, Paul (20 January 2026). "JJ Foodservice launches Japanese range - Better Wholesaling". Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  32. ↑ "The Grocer Gold Awards 2026: National wholesaler of the year". The Grocer. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
  33. ↑ Cambridge, Lyndsey. "Mushtaque Ahmed: how JJs used tech to become a force in foodservice". The Grocer. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  34. ↑ "Catering for market needs and business efficiency". www.ft.com. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  35. ↑ Hill, Paul (16 June 2020). "How JJ Foodservice has adapted during the coronavirus - Better Wholesaling". Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  36. ↑ Hegarty, Ronan. "JJ Foodservice introduces deal-enabling self-service kiosks". The Grocer. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  37. ↑ "JJ Foodservice – Conquering the capital". Wholesale Manager - The news magazine for the UK wholesale and cash & carry industry. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  38. ↑ "What's it like to be in the 1% of female lorry drivers?". BBC News. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  39. ↑ Leader, Alice. "JJ Foodservice reports 22.5% jump in sales to £270m". The Grocer. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  40. ↑ Houlton, Cara. "JJ Foodservice to open two new branches in 2026". The Grocer. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  41. ↑ Badger, James. "JJ Foodservice launches own brand extra virgin olive oil". The Grocer. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  42. ↑ "JJ Foodservice introduces Simit's to sandwich menus and other Turkish foods | Asian Trader". www.asiantrader.biz. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  43. ↑ "Best new products for fast food restaurants". The Caterer. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  44. ↑ Buccheri, Rory. "JJ Foodservice launches new premium sushi rice line". The Grocer. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  45. ↑ "Frozen at Sea Fish Sales Surge by More Than a Third at JJ Foodservice". 22 April 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  46. ↑ Hawthorne, Ellis. "JJ Food Service adds premium seasonal frozen fish range". The Grocer. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  47. ↑ Edmonds, Helen (11 May 2026). "£30 off voucher part of JJ's One-Stop-Shop Fish & Chips campaign". FRY Magazine. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  48. ↑ "JJ shakes up sandwich menus with new simit | Public Sector Catering". www.publicsectorcatering.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  49. ↑ "Simit sandwich bread launched JJ Foodservice". British Baker. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  50. ↑ "JJ Foodservice launches new Signature herbs and spices range | Cash & Carry Management". Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  51. ↑ "Bisto bouillon for chefs, Picual olive oil and salt and vinegar chips: The best new sauces and seasoning". The Caterer. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  52. ↑ Cambridge, Lyndsey. "JJ Foodservice's eco-packaging range triples in sales". The Grocer. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  53. ↑ "Cash & Carry Management in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs announces the 2025/6 Winners CCM Chefs' Own-Brand Awards" (PDF). CCM. 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  54. ↑ "The Grocer New Product Awards 2026 - 2024 Winners". thegrocernewproductawards.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  55. ↑ "The Grocer New Product & Packaging Awards 2025 - 2025 Winners". thegrocernewproductawards.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 March 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  56. ↑ https://cashandcarrymanagement.co.uk/. "JJ Foodservice wins first Great Taste Awards | Cash & Carry Management". Retrieved 15 August 2026. {{cite web}}: External link in |last= (help)
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