Nut and dried fruit supplier Whitworths has continued a hot streak to grow sales by 16.6% last year, as shoppers’ interest in healthy eating and home baking held strong.
Sales climbed by £25m to £173.1m in the year to 3 January 2026, according to accounts filed at Companies House this month.
Whitworths’ strong revenue growth pushed its underlying profits higher, with operating profit before adjustments growing from £5.9m to £7.4m, though a £3m writedown on the value of derivatives brought its pre-tax profit to £4.7m.
The strong year has cemented Whitworths’ streak of strong performance as consumers look for healthier ingredients, with profits at a 10-year high.
Whitworths CEO Mark Fairweather put the company’s rapid rise down to an explosion in interest in nuts, seeds and dried fruit among young people, many of whom are now more conscious of their diet and enjoy home cooking.
“Our partnerships with leading retailers remain our bedrock, while our brand is proving it can stretch into new occasions and connect with a younger, health-conscious audience,” he said.
In 2024, Whitworths rebranded with the tagline ‘The Natural Nutrient Experts’ to take advantage of the trend.
“2026 will be about building on this momentum – strengthening our partnerships, accelerating innovation, and continuing to lead the national conversation about the role of nutrition in preventing disease,” said Fairweather.
Whitworths’ focus for the year will be on continuing to drive nuts, seeds and dried fruit penetration by opening up its products to new meal occasions and more stores.
New products such as its Power 10 breakfast toppers, Wok Tops, and Not Guilty permissible chocolate-covered snacks have all been designed to suggest opportunities for shoppers to add more dried goods to their diet.
The company has likewise launched a plant-based meat alternative, Supermince, under its Nutty Kitchen brand, made from Californian walnuts, lentils and red quinoa.
No comments yet