Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £7.0bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Input costs weigh on poultry selling prices and revenue
- Over the past five years, input costs for poultry farmers and vertically integrated processors have experienced dramatic fluctuations. This has translated to changing retail prices, as processors pass on costs in order to protect profit, pushing industry revenue upwards.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
New packaging regulation will increase processors' costs
- In October 2025, fees associated with the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging regulation will come into force. The EPR is a major shift in packaging regulation that makes businesses more accountable for the entire lifecycle of the packaging they place on the market. These fees are charged to cover the cost of disposing of packaging. Fees are higher for more costly items to dispose of and are more widely placed on the market. This incentivises businesses to adapt packaging strategies to materials that are easier to recycle to reduce associated waste disposal fees.
Biggest companies in the Poultry Meat Processing in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue (£m)
2026 |
|---|---|---|
Boparan Holdings Ltd | 1,879.7 | |
Moy Park Ltd | 1,728.1 | |
Avara Foods Ltd | 1,411.9 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Whole chicken, Fresh cuts of chicken and Frozen cuts of chicken. Whole chicken is the largest segment of the Poultry Meat Processing in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Rising costs peck away at chicken cut sales
- Chicken cuts are sold fresh as thin strips or chunks of boneless chicken. They’re mainly bought by retailers and food-service companies.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in the industry operate slaughterhouses engaged in killing, dressing or packing poultry. Processors produce fresh, chilled or frozen meat in individual portions; render edible poultry fats; and process feathers and down.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom include Whole chicken, Fresh cuts of chicken, Frozen cuts of chicken, Turkey, Geese, Duck, Other fowl, Feather and down and Offal and fats.Companies
Companies covered in the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom include Boparan Holdings Ltd, Moy Park Ltd and Avara Foods Ltd.Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom include offal, game bird and down.Industry Code
SIC 10.12 - Poultry Meat Processing in the UK
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Volatile poultry prices have impacted revenue. As input costs for poultry raising have risen, poultry selling prices have also risen. However, unlike in previous years, inten...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Supermarkets continue to be the biggest customer. Supermarkets provide the biggest gateway to downstream consumers. As a result, this revenue stream continues to swell.
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The East of England's great links mean lower transport times. This draws processors in because the less time it takes to get their products to a customer, the more likely tha...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Processors must keep input costs low. This helps them keep contracts with price-sensitive supermarkets and fast-food chains. Greater control of production processes and stron...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Cranswick makes major poultry investments. In 2024, the company stated it had invested £29 million into its prepared and cooked poultry sites, with plans for a further £13 mi...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Boparan Holdings Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Moy Park Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Avara Foods Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Boparan Holdings Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Moy Park Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Avara Foods Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Food standards are hugely important. Processors must adhere to strict regulations to make sure products are fit for human consumption.
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Seasonal visas are extended to tackle poultry labour shortages. The UK’s extension of seasonal visas and the addition of 2,000 new visas aim to ease Brexit-induced labour sho...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2019-2023)
- Coverage Ratios (2019-2023)
- Leverage Ratios (2019-2023)
- Operating Ratios (2019-2023)
- Assets (2019-2023)
- Liabilities (2019-2023)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
The market size of the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom is £7.0bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 97 businesses in the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom is likely to be impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom are Boparan Holdings Ltd, Moy Park Ltd and Avara Foods Ltd
What does the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom include?
Whole chicken and Fresh cuts of chicken are part of the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom is Boparan Holdings Ltd.
How competitive is the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Poultry Meat Processing industry in the United Kingdom.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
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