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
Revenue £243.4m[2] (2025)
£11.4m[2] (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.[3]

History

JJ Foodservice was founded in 1988 by entrepreneur Mustafa Kiamil, who opened the company's first warehouse in Hornsey, North London.[4][5][6] The company's roots can be traced to 1982 when Kiamil started a burger bar named Jenny's Burgers, which expanded into a chain.[4] To support the chain, Kiamil established a catering delivery business, which soon began supplying other independent restaurants.[7]

JJ Foodservice self-funded its growth and owns its buildings, vehicles, and equipment outright.[8] 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.[9][10]

The company donated free meals to hospitals and care homes.[11][12]

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.[13][14] 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".[10] 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.[15][16]

Operations

In the financial year ended 31 March 2025, the company reported turnover of £243,411,300 and net income of £11,423,564.[2] The company has over 800 employees and owns 12 branches as of 2024.[17][18]

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.[19][20] 75% of sales are generated online.[21]

To address driver shortages, the Group encourages more women to become HGV drivers.[22] It has also recruited from Poland.[7] The company equips its truck drivers with devices to track vehicle location, delivery completion, and stock distribution.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Search for a trade mark". gov.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "JJ Foodservice Limited Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025", UK.GOV, Companies House
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b "JJ Foodservice Celebrating 30 years of all-round excellence". Wholesale Manager. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  5. ^ "JJ FOOD SERVICE LIMITED". Companies House. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Turkish Cypriot couple make it onto the 'Rich List 2020'". The London Gazette. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  7. ^ a b Moules, Jonathan (20 January 2006). "The driving workforce behind a successful food distribution group". Financial Times. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Catering for market needs and business efficiency". Financial Times. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  9. ^ "JJ Foodservice bolsters Asian food offering with Gatelands acquisition". The Caterer. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Grocer Gold Awards 2024: JJ Foodservice is National Wholesaler of the Year". The Grocer. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Food company delivers 1,500 free meals to Leeds hospital". Yorkshire Evening Post. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  12. ^ Smith, Sophie (6 May 2020). "The restaurant wholesaler now delivering food to care homes". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  13. ^ Buccheri, Rory. "JJ Foodservice launches new mix & save promotion to boost customer flexibility". The Grocer. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  14. ^ Buccheri, Rory. "JJ Foodservice expands Mix & Save promotion to keep supporting restaurants". The Grocer. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  15. ^ Houlton, Cara. "JJ Foodservice launches specialist Japanese range". The Grocer. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  16. ^ Hill, Paul (20 January 2026). "JJ Foodservice launches Japanese range - Better Wholesaling". Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  17. ^ Cambridge, Lyndsey. "Mushtaque Ahmed: how JJs used tech to become a force in foodservice". The Grocer. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Catering for market needs and business efficiency". www.ft.com. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  19. ^ Hill, Paul (16 June 2020). "How JJ Foodservice has adapted during the coronavirus - Better Wholesaling". Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  20. ^ Hegarty, Ronan. "JJ Foodservice introduces deal-enabling self-service kiosks". The Grocer. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "What's it like to be in the 1% of female lorry drivers?". BBC News. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
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