KERB, the pioneering street food collective and hospitality group, has announced impressive growth across its membership of independent food businesses, generating £32.2 million in revenue in 2024. This marks an 89% increase from £17 million in 2022, and 37% from £23.5 million in 2023, solidifying KERB’s position as one of the fastest-growing players in British hospitality.
KERB’s flagship food hall, Seven Dials Market, remains a customer favourite, welcoming on average 30,000 visitors each week in 2024. Home to twenty independent food businesses, the venue has achieved year-on-year food revenue growth of 20.6% to £17.5 million. Meanwhile, KERB Events, which curates the food and drink offering at venues such as the National Theatre, as well as providing catering at private events and sporting stadia like Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspurs, saw the biggest year-on-year growth of 69%, reaching £13.6 million in sales.
KERB also operates five weekly pop-up lunch markets in the capital that achieved year-on-year growth of 13% to £1.1 million. KERB remains committed to returning their street food markets to pre-pandemic performance, with all profits invested into their social enterprise, KERB+. This funds programmes for vulnerable groups – including those experiencing homelessness, youth unemployment, ex-offenders and refugees – helping them to gain employment or start their own food businesses.
Simon Mitchell, CEO of KERB, spoke at the KERB’s Annual Member Summit, which brought together over 100 of KERB’s London-based independent street food businesses to reflect on their success: “It’s been an extraordinary year for KERB. We are incredibly proud of the growth and success we have seen across our markets, food halls, and events. As we move into 2025, with exciting new locations in Berlin, the US, and London, we are confident that KERB will continue to curate exceptional hospitality experiences, and more importantly, help hundreds of brilliant independent businesses accelerate their growth.”
A percentage of all revenue from KERB’s food halls and events are invested directly into KERB’s social enterprise, KERB+. One of its flagship programmes is Streets Ahead, a partnership with McCain Foodservice. Through this programme, KERB+ coaches provide comprehensive coaching for aspiring entrepreneurs – from recently arrived refugees to prisoners preparing to be released. In the past 12 months, this programme has supported 25 participants, of which 13 have successfully secured a total of £108k in funding from the programme. KERB runs the programme, working closely with participants through immersive workshops, business development, and menu support, helping participants bring their business ideas to life.
Looking ahead, KERB is opening two new London locations in 2025, which will provide 8 new fixed sites for independent businesses in its membership. Corner Corner, a 55, 000 sq ft space that brings together food, live music and an indoor vertical farm is opening on April 4th as part of a joint venture with Broadwick, who are known for venues such as Printworks and Drumsheds. KERB is also opening a new concept in a Central London location this summer, with details expected to be revealed soon.
KERB is also expanding internationally this year, opening KERB Berlin – a food hall with 12 of Berlin’s best independent food businesses in May. The business is also expanding in the USA, where they opened the Saluhall food hall last year in San Francisco, in partnership with INGKA Centres.
