Major London restaurant supplier Woods Foodservice has acquired rival John Mower in a multimillion-pound takeover.
Propelling Woods from £40m to over £50m in turnover, the deal has made Woods one of the UK’s largest premium foodservice names, with a customer list of over 3,000 restaurants – with more than 90 Michelin stars between them.
“John Mower is an industry icon,” said Darren Labbett, Woods CEO.
“Its core values align strongly with Woods Foodservice. We both put our customers above all else, and that principle has fuelled our success.
“We’re a careful business – this acquisition is a thoughtful step to deliver measured growth, whilst remaining profitable and continuing to deliver excellence.”
The acquisition has also brought John Mower’s Hoddesdon distribution centre into Woods’ network, cutting delivery time.
“Perfectly conditioned food for top chefs is all about how you deliver it. We can supply the freshest artichoke to a London restaurant within an hour. Maybe even faster with this acquisition,” Labbett said.
London’s fine dining market has remained resilient – even buoyant – despite the challenges facing the wider hospitality industry, with 146 new openings in 2025, almost double that of 2024.
“London is a resurging food destination with a record number of new openings and a notable drop in closures. We have some of the world’s best chefs, restaurants, hotels and bars,” Labbett said.
“Together Woods Foodservice and John Mower have been supplying them for over 100 years. We will never take that for granted.
“The opportunity for growth over the next five years is huge and this deal will put Woods Foodservice and John Mower at the heart of fine dining across London and other major cities.”
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