Independent food traders in KERB’s network, which spans sites including Seven Dials Market, Corner Corner, and KERB Sports Bar, generated £38.9 million in revenue in 2025, up 18.9% year-on-year, whilst rising costs and limited support make traditional routes into hospitality increasingly difficult.
The figures, published in KERB’s latest Impact Report, reflect growth across its markets, events and venues, alongside £3.2m in social value derived through KERB+, its non-profit arm focused on creating pathways into hospitality for people from less advantaged backgrounds. The findings come as the wider hospitality sector faces sustained pressure from rising rents, labour costs and VAT, alongside limited policy support, reinforcing the role of established, platform-led models in providing more accessible and lower-risk routes into the industry.
Simon Mitchell, CEO of KERB, said: “It has been well documented that opening a permanent brick-and-mortar site is becoming prohibitively expensive for many hospitality founders. What we’re seeing is a growing demand for models that allow businesses to start smaller and scale. The data from our Impact Report reflects that shift, with independent traders generating sustained growth within a more flexible, lower-risk environment.
“Independent hospitality can thrive, but it needs infrastructure that reflects how the sector operates today. At a time when rising costs and access to capital remain significant barriers, the KERB model is enabling independent businesses to grow revenue, test concepts and expand more sustainably”
Key figures from the 2026 Impact Report:
- £38.9m in revenue generated for KERB’s membership of independent businesses, up 18.9% year-on-year
- £3.2m in independently verified social value (RealWorth)
- £4.16 returned in social value for every £1 invested in KERB+
- 3 new fixed venues opened in 2025, creating 17 new full-time trading spaces
- 38 permanent, year-round trading spots now operating across London and Berlin
- 45 new food businesses launched by entrepreneurs from less advantaged backgrounds through the Streets Ahead programme
A broken route into hospitality, and a working alternative
The report highlights a structural issue across the sector. For many founders, the traditional bricks-and-mortar route into hospitality is increasingly out of reach due to high upfront costs and ongoing financial risk. Recent policy changes have added to this pressure. While business rates relief has been applied to pubs and live music venues, much of the wider hospitality sector, including restaurants and independent food operators, has been left without equivalent support.
KERB’s inKERBator programme provides a structured route into the industry, combining live trading opportunities with hands-on training and mentoring, enabling founders to test and scale their businesses without the need for immediate investment in a permanent site.
CHULO, a Nepalese street food brand, has grown from a solo operation into a business generating £500,000 in annual revenue, employing up to 30 staff at peak and trading across major events and KERB locations. El’s Tacos launched after accessing funding and mentorship through the McCain Foodservices Streets Ahead programme, which is delivered by KERB, moving from concept to a fully operational business trading at festivals and markets. These trajectories demonstrate how access to infrastructure via KERB, combined with training and trading opportunities, can translate into sustainable growth.
Growth with purpose: commercial performance in a contracting market
KERB’s data points to a model delivering both commercial growth and measurable impact at a time when many hospitality operators are under pressure. Revenue generated by its independent membership increased from £32.8 million to £38.9 million year-on-year, driven by access to consistent trading opportunities, shared infrastructure and business support.
The strength of this pathway is reflected in its track record. Businesses that started within the KERB ecosystem include Pizza Pilgrims, BAO and Bleecker Burger, which have gone on to become established names in the UK hospitality sector. Bleecker Burger returned to trade at Seven Dials Market in 2025, while current KERB members include Lucky’s Hot Chicken, Bad Boy Pizza Society and Only Jerkin’, alongside a new generation of emerging operators.
KERB+ and the social value multiplier
KERB+ operates as KERB’s not-for-profit arm, delivering targeted programmes that support individuals into employment and entrepreneurship. In the past year alone, these programmes generated £2.1 million in social value, with participants receiving more than 2,000 hours of free training and support. Of the 41 individuals who took part in Coaching for Work, 59% progressed into paid employment, contributing to a broader model that returns £4.16 in social value for every £1 invested.
A central part of this work is KERB’s partnership with The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN) through the Food Power incubator. Since 2021, the programme has supported the launch of more than 37 refugee-led food businesses, generating £753,000 in social value. Participants move from structured training into live trading environments, gaining practical experience, building confidence and, in many cases, progressing into funded opportunities and long-term business operations.
Scaling infrastructure across London and beyond
Over the past year, KERB has expanded its portfolio of fixed sites, opening three new venues in 2025 and creating 17 additional full-time trading spaces. The business now operates 38 permanent, year-round trading spots across London and Berlin, providing independent traders with stable income and a platform to scale. Developments such as Corner Corner reflect a broader approach, combining food, culture and sustainability, while generating £41,300 in social value, demonstrating how commercial growth and social impact can operate in tandem.
