Who We Are
The World Food Association (WFA) represents the UK’s world food and drink sector
The market for ethnic food and drink is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK and has enjoyed continued, strong growth in recent years. The overall ethnic foods market recorded a 32% increase in value sales between 2008 and 2013 to reach a staggering £1.4 billion, with latest estimates placing current sales over £1.6bn. Ready meals are fuelling the growth, supported by increased NPD and a wider offering from supermarkets.
The market has benefited from an ever expanding variety of ethnic cuisines available at retail, off the back of hot restaurant trends, an increasingly diverse ethnic population in the UK, growth in international travel and a more experimental British audience, keen to try new and exotic fare.
Indian and Chinese cuisine continue to dominate the market, with emerging sectors including Mexican and Caribbean quickly gaining greater footing. Smaller, niche categories are also fuelling growth with Japanese, African and Indonesian food expanding at a substantial rate.
The World Food Association (WFA), represents UK companies that operate in the markets of ethnic food and drink, covering products from Asian, Oriental, African, Caribbean, South American, European and Middle Eastern countries.
For more information about membership, contact us
Featured News
Technomic Predicts 2016 Restaurant Trends for the UK, Technomic
What’s the outlook for the U.K. foodservice industry? After identifying the top emerging trends in the U.S. and Canada, leading food research and consulting firm Technomic zeroed in on the U.K. market and sees these five trends impacting restaurants in the coming year.
Read MoreRamadan boosts Britain’s big supermarkets with £100million sales uplift as Muslims prepare lavish sundown meals, The Daily Mail
Britain’s biggest supermarkets have been boosted with a £100million sales uplift thanks to Ramadan. Three million Muslims in the UK will break their fast with lavish sundown meals during the Islamic holy month.
Read MoreBurritos with everything as Britain falls for Mexican food, The Guardian
The UK is riding a Mexican culinary wave with burrito outlets now the fastest growing type of eatery on the high street. In the last year alone, the number of Mexican restaurants, led by brands such as Wahaca and Barburrito, has risen by 71%.
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