UK Food & Drink Payment Practices: A Mixed Bag in 2025

The Numbers

• Companies analysed: 114
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 50.7/100
• UK average: 50.0/100 (Food & Drink is 0.7 points above)
• Top Payer: Hertfordshire Catering Limited - 96.7/100
• Bottom Payer: Fox's Burton's Companies (FBC) UK Limited - 20.8/100
• London Average: 60.2/100 (25 companies)

What Stands Out

The Food and Drink sector's average PaymentCheck Score of 50.7 is only marginally better than the overall UK average of 50, suggesting suppliers might not experience notably faster payments compared to other sectors. London, with an average score of 60.2 across 25 companies, demonstrates a considerably stronger payment performance compared to other regions and the national average, implying location might be a factor in prompt payments.

Best Payers

1. HERTFORDSHIRE CATERING LIMITED - 96.7/100
2. GREENCORE FOODS LIMITED - 90.8/100
3. MONSTER ENERGY UK LIMITED - 88.9/100
4. ECOM AGROTRADE LIMITED - 88.2/100
5. JUSTERINI & BROOKS,LIMITED - 85.9/100

Worst Payers

1. FOX'S BURTON'S COMPANIES (FBC) UK LIMITED - 20.8/100
2. THG NUTRITION LIMITED - 21.6/100
3. DIAGEO GLOBAL SUPPLY IBC LIMITED - 22.8/100
4. AB INBEV UK LIMITED - 23/100
5. MONDELEZ UK CONFECTIONERY PRODUCTION LIMITED - 23.3/100

Regional Patterns

London's average PaymentCheck score of 60.2, based on data from 25 companies, significantly exceeds the national average, whereas only one company in Wales had an average of 58.3. It is worth noting that these two averages are based on a small number of companies within each of those regions. Further data on these regions might reveal more accurate trends.

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Ultimately, with a range spanning from Hertfordshire Catering's impressive 96.7 to Fox's Burton's dismal 20.8, the 2025 data paints a picture of wildly inconsistent payment practices within the UK Food & Drink sector.

2025: The Story

The Food and Drink sector experienced a marginal dip in payment performance in 2025, with the average score declining by 0.2 points to 50.7/100. The most dramatic shift came from GREENCORE FOODS LIMITED, which recorded an astounding +51.8 point improvement, rocketing to 90.8/100 and setting a new standard for speed in the industry. Other significant movers include GLEN GRANT LIMITED, up +15.9 points to 78.7/100, and FEVERTREE UK LIMITED, improving by +12.4 points to 70.9/100, pointing to targeted efforts within the beverage segment.

However, not all news was positive. KINGSLAND DRINKS LIMITED saw the biggest decline, dropping -7.1 points to 56.2/100, reflecting potential challenges in their supply chain management. This mixed picture highlights a growing divergence within the drinks sub-sector, where some players are making great strides while others face increasing pressure. The arrival of new high-performers like HERTFORDSHIRE CATERING LIMITED at 96.7/100 also underscores emerging benchmarks. Suppliers should remain vigilant, focusing on individual company scores within their specific niches rather than relying solely on sector averages.