Data last verified: 13 November 2026. Figures re-checked against their primary sources under the Whito rolling re-verification programme.
Finding
The number of UK takeaway and mobile food businesses rose 69.1% between 2010 and 2026, from 27,555 to 46,590.
Source: Whito, whito.co.uk/takeaways/uk-takeaway-industry, 2026-11-13. Free to quote with a link to this page.
Last Updated on November 13, 2026
Read a short summary
General summary
The UK had 46,590 takeaway and mobile food businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 69.1% up on 2010 (27,555) and 14.8% up on 2021 (40,570). 90.8% employ fewer than ten people. North East has the most per head, 80.4 per 100,000 residents. South East has the fewest, 54.5.
Bullet points
- 46,590 UK takeaway and mobile food businesses in March 2026 (ONS).
- Compared with 2010: 69.1% up on 2010 (27,555).
- Compared with 2021: 14.8% up on 2021 (40,570).
- 90.8% employ fewer than ten people.
- Most per head: North East, 80.4 per 100,000 residents. Fewest: South East, 54.5.
Basic explainer
This page counts takeaway businesses in the UK, using official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The official group also includes food vans and stalls. The page shows how the number has changed since 2010, how big the businesses are and where they are based. A business with several shops is counted once, so this is not a count of takeaway shops.
These summaries were written with AI from this page only. The full page below is the record.
Short answer: the UK had 46,590 takeaway and mobile food businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 69.1% up on 2010 (27,555) and 14.8% up on 2021 (40,570). 90.8% employ fewer than ten people. North East has the most per head, 80.4 per 100,000 residents; South East has the fewest, 54.5.
This page uses official counts you can rerun yourself, the rules that apply, and Whito’s published research. The regional and change figures are Whito’s calculations. The official category is “Take away food shops and mobile food stands”, so it includes food vans and stalls. A business with several shops is counted once.
The key figures
| Figure | Value | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Takeaway and mobile food businesses (UK, SIC 56103) | 46,590 | ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026 (official statistic) |
| Change since 2010 | +69.1% (from 27,555) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Change since 2021 | +14.8% (from 40,570) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 42,320 (90.8%) | Same dataset |
| 250 or more employees | 45 | Same dataset |
| Most per head | North East, 80.4 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Fewest per head | South East, 54.5 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
The count year by year
| Year | Businesses (UK) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 27,555 |
| 2011 | 26,985 |
| 2012 | 28,385 |
| 2013 | 27,965 |
| 2014 | 28,925 |
| 2015 | 34,595 |
| 2016 | 35,190 |
| 2017 | 35,765 |
| 2018 | 36,670 |
| 2019 | 37,465 |
| 2020 | 38,170 |
| 2021 | 40,570 |
| 2022 | 43,705 |
| 2023 | 43,620 |
| 2024 | 44,010 |
| 2025 | 45,355 |
| 2026 | 46,590 |
The highest count in this period was 46,590 in 2026. The lowest was 26,985 in 2011. Each count is a snapshot taken in March of that year.
How big are takeaway businesses?
| Employees | Businesses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 9 | 42,320 | 90.8% |
| 10 to 49 | 4,000 | 8.6% |
| 50 to 249 | 225 | 0.5% |
| 250 or more | 45 | 0.1% |
| Total | 46,590 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 56103 “Take away food shops and mobile food stands”, 2026, via Nomis (dataset NM_142_1). Counts are rounded to the nearest 5, so bands may not add exactly to the total.
Where takeaway businesses are based
| Region or nation | 2010 | 2021 | 2026 | Per 100,000 residents | Change 2010 to 2026 | Change 2021 to 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 1,225 | 2,075 | 2,220 | 80.4 | +81.2% | +7.0% |
| North West | 2,900 | 5,275 | 6,135 | 78.9 | +111.6% | +16.3% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 2,200 | 4,020 | 4,320 | 76.2 | +96.4% | +7.5% |
| Wales | 1,355 | 2,140 | 2,390 | 75.3 | +76.4% | +11.7% |
| London | 3,765 | 5,465 | 6,810 | 74.6 | +80.9% | +24.6% |
| Scotland | 2,645 | 3,650 | 4,000 | 72.1 | +51.2% | +9.6% |
| Northern Ireland | 880 | 1,240 | 1,330 | 69.0 | +51.1% | +7.3% |
| West Midlands | 2,385 | 3,440 | 3,925 | 63.2 | +64.6% | +14.1% |
| East Midlands | 1,825 | 2,740 | 3,145 | 61.8 | +72.3% | +14.8% |
| East of England | 2,550 | 3,205 | 3,745 | 56.6 | +46.9% | +16.8% |
| South West | 2,295 | 2,805 | 3,285 | 55.6 | +43.1% | +17.1% |
| South East | 3,530 | 4,500 | 5,285 | 54.5 | +49.7% | +17.4% |
| United Kingdom | 27,555 | 40,570 | 46,590 | 67.1 | +69.1% | +14.8% |
Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates. Per-head and change figures are Whito calculations. A business is counted once, where it is registered, which is not always where it works.
What stands out
- North East has about 1.5 times as many per head as South East (80.4 against 54.5 per 100,000 residents).
- Fastest growth since 2010: North West (+111.6%). Slowest: South West (+43.1%).
- Every region has more businesses than in 2021.
- The data cannot say why counts rise or fall. New firms, firms crossing the VAT threshold, mergers, closures and businesses registering elsewhere all move the count.
Rules that apply
Anyone who sells, cooks, stores, handles, prepares or distributes food must register as a food business with their local authority. A business with several sites must register each one.
GOV.UK advises registering about 28 days before you are ready to start trading. Source: GOV.UK, Food business registration, last updated 25 June 2026.
What Whito’s research adds
Whito’s other takeaway pages: UK Takeaway Marketing Costs 2026: What to Spend and Where, UK Takeaway Marketing in Numbers: 2026 Data Report, Delivery Apps Take Up to a Third of Every Order. For Many UK Takeaways That Is the Whole Profit. This page adds the official business counts, by size, by region and by year.
What we do not know yet
- How many people work in the industry. This page counts businesses, not workers.
- The smallest sole traders. Businesses that are neither VAT registered nor employers are not in the ONS count.
- Turnover. We only publish figures we can check at source.
Method and limits
- Business counts: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 56103, all legal statuses, March snapshots for 2010 to 2026, via the Nomis API (dataset NM_142_1), read 13 November 2026.
- Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates via Nomis (NM_2002_1).
- Counts are rounded to the nearest 5 by ONS. Business counts are March 2026; population is mid-2025.
Compare with other industries: see UK trade businesses in 2026: ten industries compared, one table with each count, its date and the change since 2010 and 2021.
Compare with other industries: see how takeaways compare with eleven other UK industries by number of businesses, growth since 2010 and business size, in one table: UK industries compared 2026.
Common questions
How many takeaway businesses are there in the UK?
46,590 registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the ONS (SIC 56103). The count includes mobile food stands. A business with several shops is counted once.
Is the number of takeaway businesses growing?
It rose 14.8% between 2021 and 2026 and rose 69.1% since 2010 (Whito calculation from ONS data).
Which part of the UK has the most takeaway businesses?
By number, London (6,810). Per head, North East, with 80.4 per 100,000 residents.
Are most takeaway businesses small?
Yes. 42,320 of 46,590 (90.8%) employ fewer than ten people.
Sources (opened 13 November 2026)
- ONS UK Business Counts via Nomis, NM_142_1: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_142_1
- ONS mid-2025 population estimates via Nomis, NM_2002_1
- GOV.UK, Food business registration (last updated 25 June 2026): https://www.gov.uk/food-business-registration
