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U.K. (FTSE) Food Industry Analysis

UpdatedAug 26, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies18
  • 7D1.9%
  • 3M7.5%
  • 1Y-1.4%
  • YTD5.4%

The Food industry is up 3.0% in the last week, with Associated British Foods up 2.4%. However, the industry is down 3.6% over the past year. Earnings are forecast to grow by 11% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.K. Food Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 26 Aug 2026UK£27.9bUK£39.8bUK£1.6b15.6x17.1x0.7x
Fri, 24 Jul 2026UK£26.8bUK£39.8bUK£1.6b16.5x16.4x0.7x
Sun, 21 Jun 2026UK£25.8bUK£39.8bUK£1.6b16.6x15.8x0.6x
Tue, 19 May 2026UK£26.4bUK£39.1bUK£1.7b16.7x15.2x0.7x
Thu, 16 Apr 2026UK£25.1bUK£36.8bUK£1.8b12.6x13.8x0.7x
Sat, 14 Mar 2026UK£25.3bUK£36.8bUK£1.8b12.8x14x0.7x
Mon, 09 Feb 2026UK£26.4bUK£36.7bUK£1.8b13.3x14.7x0.7x
Wed, 07 Jan 2026UK£27.3bUK£39.1bUK£1.8b16.3x14.8x0.7x
Fri, 05 Dec 2025UK£27.3bUK£38.8bUK£1.8b14.7x15.2x0.7x
Sun, 02 Nov 2025UK£28.6bUK£38.8bUK£2.1b14.9x13.8x0.7x
Tue, 30 Sep 2025UK£25.9bUK£38.7bUK£2.1b15.2x12.5x0.7x
Thu, 28 Aug 2025UK£27.9bUK£38.5bUK£2.1b19.2x13.6x0.7x
Sat, 26 Jul 2025UK£28.3bUK£38.5bUK£2.0b19x14.2x0.7x
Mon, 23 Jun 2025UK£26.8bUK£38.5bUK£2.0b17.8x13.5x0.7x
Wed, 21 May 2025UK£27.7bUK£38.5bUK£2.2b15.7x12.5x0.7x
Fri, 18 Apr 2025UK£27.1bUK£38.4bUK£2.2b15.4x12.5x0.7x
Sun, 16 Mar 2025UK£24.7bUK£38.2bUK£2.1b14.9x11.5x0.6x
Tue, 11 Feb 2025UK£25.5bUK£38.2bUK£2.2b12.7x11.8x0.7x
Thu, 09 Jan 2025UK£25.8bUK£38.2bUK£2.2b12.1x12x0.7x
Sat, 07 Dec 2024UK£28.5bUK£38.3bUK£2.2b13.6x13.1x0.7x
Mon, 04 Nov 2024UK£28.5bUK£38.2bUK£1.9b14.2x15x0.7x
Wed, 02 Oct 2024UK£28.4bUK£38.2bUK£1.9b14x15x0.7x
Fri, 30 Aug 2024UK£29.6bUK£38.3bUK£1.9b14.5x15.8x0.8x
Sun, 28 Jul 2024UK£31.3bUK£41.8bUK£2.4b14.3x13.3x0.7x
Tue, 25 Jun 2024UK£31.2bUK£41.8bUK£2.3b14.3x13.3x0.7x
Thu, 23 May 2024UK£32.6bUK£41.7bUK£2.4b14.6x13.7x0.8x
Sat, 20 Apr 2024UK£29.9bUK£41.3bUK£2.3b14.6x13.1x0.7x
Mon, 18 Mar 2024UK£27.1bUK£38.3bUK£1.8b14.2x15.5x0.7x
Wed, 14 Feb 2024UK£27.1bUK£40.9bUK£2.2b15.1x12.5x0.7x
Fri, 12 Jan 2024UK£28.2bUK£41.9bUK£2.2b15.3x12.7x0.7x
Sun, 10 Dec 2023UK£29.6bUK£41.8bUK£2.2b15.8x13.4x0.7x
Tue, 07 Nov 2023UK£26.3bUK£40.2bUK£1.4b19.3x19.3x0.7x
Thu, 05 Oct 2023UK£26.1bUK£40.2bUK£1.3b19.4x19.4x0.6x
Sat, 02 Sep 2023UK£25.6bUK£39.8bUK£1.4b13.9x18.6x0.6x
Price to Earnings Ratio

18.6x


Total Market Cap: UK£25.6bTotal Earnings: UK£1.4bTotal Revenue: UK£39.8bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Food Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 14.2x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the British Food industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 17.1x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 14.2x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 0.70x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Food industry have grown 5.8% per year over the last three years, while revenues have remained mostly flat.
  • This means that companies overall are more efficiently conducting business since profits are increasing while sales have been flat.

Industry Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.K. Consumer Staples industry?

GB Market1.70%
Consumer Staples1.99%
Food1.89%
Agricultural Products2.10%
Packaged Foods and Meats1.87%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Packaged Foods and Meats industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 15.1x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 12.2%, which is lower than the prior year's growth of 13.7% per year.
  • Investors are most pessimistic about the Agricultural Products industry, although it looks like investor sentiment has improved given that it's trading above its 3-year average of 10.5x.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Packaged Foods and Meats industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 12% over the next 5 years.
  • This is roughly in line with its past earnings growth rate.
  • In contrast, the Agricultural Products industry is expected to see its earnings growth to stay flat over the next few years.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
ABF Associated British FoodsUK£20.642.4%
+UK£335.6m		-7.1%PE15.2x
CWK CranswickUK£54.101.9%
+UK£53.5m		2.7%PE18.3x
GNC Greencore GroupUK£2.672.4%
+UK£49.2m		4.0%PE706.4x
PFD Premier FoodsUK£2.002.5%
+UK£41.3m		4.3%PE12.6x
AEP AEP PlantationsUK£1.933.8%
+UK£26.7m		56.0%PE11.1x

Latest News

GNC
UK£2.67
Greencore Group
7D
2.4%
1Y
4.0%
Narrative Update • Aug 24

GNC: Higher Assumed Profitability And Revenue Will Likely Support Fair Future P/E

Analysts have revised their price target for Greencore Group to £2.65 from £2.32, citing updated assumptions for fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E as the key drivers of this change. What's in the News for Greencore Group The recent price target revision for Greencore Group to £2.65 from £2.32 reflects updated assumptions on fair value, discount rate, revenue, profit margin and future P/E.
AEP
UK£1.93
AEP Plantations
7D
3.8%
1Y
56.0%
FVA
UK£1.39
Fevara
7D
-2.1%
1Y
-0.7%
CWK
UK£54.10
Cranswick
7D
1.9%
1Y
2.7%
TATE
UK£5.54
Tate & Lyle
7D
0.2%
1Y
2.4%
Narrative Update • Jul 30

TATE: Future Share Price Will Reflect Risks Around Ingredion Takeover Proposal

Analysts have modestly raised their fair value estimate for Tate & Lyle, with the implied price target moving from about £3.75 to roughly £4.14. This reflects updated assumptions on revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E, even as recent research has shifted ratings toward Hold.
HFG
UK£6.19
Hilton Food Group
7D
0.7%
1Y
-26.1%
ABF
UK£20.64
Associated British Foods
7D
2.4%
1Y
-7.1%
Narrative Update • Jul 20

ABF: Margin Resilience And Cash Generation Will Underpin Measured Future Upside

The analyst fair value estimate for Associated British Foods has been reduced from £21.50 to £21.00, reflecting a series of lower Street price targets as analysts factor in slightly softer revenue growth assumptions and modestly adjusted P/E expectations. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Associated British Foods points to a more cautious stance on upside, with several major banks trimming price targets while largely keeping existing ratings in place.
SALT
UK£0.15
MicroSalt
7D
-9.1%
1Y
-70.9%
UKR
UK£0.07
Ukrproduct Group
7D
-6.0%
1Y
27.3%
MHPC
US$7.60
MHP
7D
-2.3%
1Y
26.7%
PFD
UK£2.00
Premier Foods
7D
2.5%
1Y
4.3%
MPE
UK£17.58
M.P. Evans Group
7D
1.5%
1Y
30.2%
Narrative Update • Jun 16

MPE: Dividends And Buybacks Will Support Measured Future Return Potential

M.P. Evans Group's analyst price target has been adjusted slightly higher to £16.82 from £16.66, with analysts citing updated assumptions on revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E expectations to support the change. What’s in the News for M.P. Evans Group M.P. Evans Group plc has commenced a share repurchase program from May 27, 2026, following shareholder approval at the June 13, 2025 AGM, covering up to 5,217,629 shares, or 10% of its share capital.
PRN
UK£3.19
Princes Group
7D
-0.3%
1Y
n/a