Frozen food maker supplying shops and caterers
Rent a small food unit, make frozen meals or desserts in volume and supply local retailers and caterers.
- £8k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
1,185 UK companies in this field, 35% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 10850 “Manufacture of prepared meals and dishes”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small production kitchen where you make a focused range of frozen products, such as pies, curries, desserts or ice cream. You pack and label them for delivery to trade customers.
Your first three steps
- Perfect two or three core products and get costed samples to a handful of local shops and caterers
- Find a suitable unit or shared commercial kitchen and talk to your local council about registration and approval
- Set up a food safety plan, packaging and labelling, and line up freezer storage and chilled or frozen delivery
Who pays
Farm shops, delis, independent grocers, cafes, pubs, caterers and care or school food suppliers, plus some online direct customers.
How it makes money
You sell wholesale by the case or tray at a trade price, often with repeat weekly or monthly orders. Direct sales online or at markets can add a higher-margin extra.
Skills that help
- Recipe development and consistency at scale
- Food safety management (HACCP-style systems)
- Costing, pricing and negotiating with buyers
- Planning production and stock
Watch out for
- Premises must be registered or approved by your local authority, so check requirements for your products early
- Products containing meat, fish or dairy may need extra approval, so check with your council or the Food Standards Agency
- Allergen controls, shelf-life testing and traceability, especially if supplying retailers who audit suppliers
- Cold chain: freezers, freezer vans or insulated delivery, and running costs for energy
- Public liability, product liability and employer's liability insurance once you hire
- Cash flow, as larger buyers may pay 30 days or more after delivery
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: frozen food maker supplying shops and caterers
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a frozen food production unit?
Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £40,000, depending on the unit, your freezers and equipment, and the range of products you make. These are estimates, so get quotes before you sign a lease.
What approvals should I check before making frozen food to sell?
Check that your premises must be registered or approved by your local authority. Products with meat, fish or dairy may need extra approval, so check with your council or the Food Standards Agency, along with allergen controls and traceability.
How much can a frozen food maker earn supplying shops?
Monthly revenue is typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on how many trade customers you win and your product range. The estimate assumes at least 30 hours a week, and larger buyers may pay 30 days or more after delivery.
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