Posted:21-November-2025
Foodco has potential to double footprint as they prepare to open 100th store
FoodCo chief executive Mike Arbuckle says the franchise group could potentially double its UK presence as it approaches the opening of its 100th store. He added that Jamaica Blue is “gaining strong traction” in the market and may eventually surpass its sister brand, Muffin Break.
FoodCo entered the UK in 2001 as the British arm of the Australian company founded in 1989, which now operates more than 420 sites across eight countries.
The group currently runs 73 Muffin Break stores and 26 Jamaica Blue cafés in the UK, and expects to open its 100th site early next year -a new Jamaica Blue in Sutton, south-west London.
Arbuckle said: “Both brands are now fully international and have developed and grown with franchisee investment. Muffin Break is a freshly baked on-site concept, so all the cabinet food is made in the store from scratch. Jamaica Blue also has a full kitchen and but is more contemporary, with a strong made-to-order menu and single origin coffee. Jamaica Blue has more ‘hustle’, with a focus on all-day breakfasts and brunch.
Both have exciting future growth potential, but Jamaica Blue, because of its unique positioning, is getting greater traction right now, so could outgrow Muffin Break. Provided the return on investment model for franchisees remains solid, we have a number of franchisees willing to expand as landlords recognise our potential.
We are looking to grow the brands by around 12-15 new stores next year and attract new investment from new franchisee groups. We have a number of multi-store operators who want to continue growing store numbers. I think we can get to 200 stores in the next six to ten years as opportunities in new channels are starting to appear.
While we are strongly shopping centre based, we are now actively looking at high streets and transport hubs and hospitals, where we already have some stores.”
Arbuckle said he would like to see expansion into “the big northern towns where we don’t have a strong presence”.
He added: “We have six stores now in Northern Ireland and seven in Scotland, and we are starting to look at opportunities in Ireland.”
On current trading and what he’d like to see from next week’s Budget, Arbuckle said: “FoodCo has annual network sales of circa £48m now, with Jamaica Blue sales growing at 14% and Muffin Break at 6%. We’d like the government to work on boosting demand, hold VAT, continue with the rates subsidy and make access to finance for small business easier. For us, brand growth comes down to allowing our franchisees to continue investing and at the store level to giving the customer an excellent experience.”
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