Friars Pride

Name

Friars Pride

Legal name

Friar's Pride Limited

Website

https://friarspride.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foodservice Distribution

NAICS

Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Ethnic Meat, Poultry & Seafood Wholesale (AFAIAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Frozen Seafood Meals & Value-Added Seafood (CRADADAG)

Keywords

• Foodservice distribution
• Frozen fish wholesale
• Fats and oils supply
• Commercial catering supplies
• Fish and chip supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Peterborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Foodservice Distribution: Wholesale distribution of food products including frozen fish, fats and oils, frozen foods, ambient foods, packaging, and equipment to fish and chip shops, takeaways, and catering businesses. Revenue is generated through product sales with pricing based on quotation or product guide prices.
2. Used Cooking Oil Collection Service: Collection service that pays competitive rates for used cooking oil from food service businesses. The collected oil is certified, traced via waste transfer notes, and can be used for electricity generation or biodiesel processing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Friars Pride is an independent, family-owned UK food service wholesaler that supplies frozen-at-sea fish, fats and oils, frozen and ambient foods, batters and flours, curry sauces, packaging, cleaning supplies, and equipment to fish and chip shops, takeaways, pubs, restaurants, bakeries, and catering businesses. The company operates seven regional depots and a large bespoke delivery fleet, complemented by a used cooking oil collection service and a customer loyalty scheme.

Product overview

Friars Pride is an independent, family-owned UK food service wholesaler established in 1975, supplying fish and chip shops, takeaways, pubs, restaurants, bakeries, and catering businesses. The company operates as part of the Q Partnership (alongside Henry Colbeck and VA Whitley) offering over 1,500 product lines through a nationwide distribution network of seven depots. The product portfolio centres on core categories: Frozen at Sea (FAS) fish fillets (including Cod, Haddock from vessels in Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Faroe Islands), heritage fats and oils (beef dripping, vegetable oils, RSPO-certified palm oil under the FriWite brand), frozen foods (sausages, chicken, pies, scampi, burgers), batters/flours/mixes, curry sauces and gravies, and packaging supplies. The company also provides proprietary brands through the Q Partnership including 42nd STREET sausages/chicken/burgers, Hook & Fish sustainable packaging, Keep It Clean cleaning products, Promenade sauces, and Prime Fry dripping. Beyond product supply, Friars Pride offers Used Cooking Oil collection services (ISCC certified), the Save + Select loyalty programme, Good Habits marketing magazine, and FRY I.T. annual trade exhibitions. The e-commerce platform is powered by Sana Commerce.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FriWite: Palm oil product brand focused on sustainability, with tree planting initiatives.
• Hook & Fish
• Keep It Clean
• 42nd STREET
• Promenade
• Ocean Sound
• Q Brand
• Prime Fry
• Lite-BITE
• Fresh & Tasty

Products and services

• Frozen at Sea (FAS) Fish Specialist range of frozen-at-sea fish fillets including Cod, Haddock, Hake, Hoki, and Pollack sourced directly from vessels in Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Norway, and other countries, frozen within hours of catch to lock in freshness for fish and chip shops and catering businesses.
• Fats and Oils Range of beef dripping, liquid vegetable oils, RSPO-certified palm oil, and block vegetable oils for frying and cooking in fish and chip shops, takeaways, and catering kitchens.
• Frozen Food Wide range of frozen products including sausages, chicken products, pies, scampi, beefburgers, kebabs, and vegetarian/vegan products for fish and chip shops, takeaways, and catering businesses.
• Batters, Flours and Mixes Batter mixes, breading, doughnut and waffle mixes, rice cones, and rice flours for fish and chip shops and bakeries.
• Packaging Supplies Packaging including biodegradable trays, Hook & Fish Fold It Bin It corrugated boxes, corrugated boxes, bags, greaseproof paper, and eco-friendly options for fish and chip shops and catering businesses.
• Curry Sauces and Gravies Range of curry sauces and gravies including Chippies Choice, Dinaclass, and gluten-free options for fish and chip shops and takeaways.
• Used Cooking Oil Collection Service Collection service for used cooking oil from food service businesses at competitive rates. The collected oil is certified and traced via waste transfer notes, with the oil processed into electricity generation or biodiesel. The service is ISCC certified.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supplies over 9,000 fish and chip shops and catering businesses
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Henry ColbeckcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company in the Q Partnership alongside Friars Pride and V A Whitley. Family business supplying fish and chip and catering markets with nationwide distribution network.
• V A WhitleycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company in the Q Partnership alongside Friars Pride and Henry Colbeck. Family business supplying fish and chip and catering markets.
• Rammi (The Solberg Trawler)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIcelandic fishing company and direct supplier relationship for close to 20 years. Rammi Cod, Haddock, or Saithe frozen at sea within 2 hours using state-of-the-art technology aboard The Solberg.
• Royal GreenlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect partner supplier providing Frozen at Sea Cod with Atlantic sourcing known for great flavour and firm meat quality.
• JFK GaduscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaroese fishing company with over 100 years of history in the fishing industry. Direct partnership for over 20 years supplying premium frozen-at-sea Cod and Haddock.
• Thorfish (Raven and Tomas Trawlers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFishing company operating trawlers Raven and Tomas in Icelandic waters. MSC certified Frozen at Sea Cod and Haddock frozen within hours of catch.
• LeinebrisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFish supplier providing frozen-at-sea fish fillets included in the MSC certified product range.
• GlacialisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFish supplier providing frozen-at-sea fish fillets included in the product range.
• Chester Zoo (Sustainable Palm Oil Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Sustainable Palm Oil Ambassadors program. National ambassador for sustainable palm oil through customer and sector engagement.
• NFFF (National Federation of Fish Friers)coreOthersMember of the NFFF which provides training, HR support, health and safety guidance, and runs the National Fish and Chip Awards.
• NEODA (National Edible Oils Distributors Association)coreOthersMember of NEODA representing food service distributors, processors, waste oil collectors, and oil refiners. Organizer of National Fish & Chip Day.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Henry Colbeck: Co-member of the Q Partnership with Friars Pride and V A Whitley, this family-owned North East England foodservice distributor supplies fish and chip shops and catering businesses with fish, oils, frozen foods, and packaging. Direct network partner providing nationwide UK coverage.
• V A Whitley & Co: Third partner in the Q Partnership alongside Friars Pride and Henry Colbeck, V A Whitley is a Yorkshire-based family foodservice distributor serving fish and chip shops and catering trade with fish, oils, frozen foods, and packaging. Together the three form the Q Partnership's nationwide network.
• JJ Foodservice: UK specialist foodservice distributor serving independent takeaways, fish and chip shops, restaurants, and caterers with fish, frozen foods, packaging, and consumables. Operates from multiple depots with strong delivery capability, directly competing for the same SMB customer base as Friars Pride.
• Turner Price: UK foodservice wholesaler supplying fish and chip shops, takeaways, restaurants, and catering businesses with fish, frozen foods, oils, and packaging across the North and Midlands. Closely comparable in target vertical and product mix to Friars Pride.
• Countrywide Foods: UK foodservice supplier specialising in fish, seafood, frozen foods, and catering supplies to independent fish and chip shops, takeaways, and restaurants. Directly comparable in product mix (seafood-led) and customer base to Friars Pride.

Broad incumbents

• Bidvest Foodservice UK: One of the UK's largest broadline foodservice distributors serving pubs, restaurants, hotels, and QSRs across the country. While not specialist to fish and chip shops, it competes for foodservice wallet share and has been expanding seafood category capabilities and digital ordering.
• Brakes Group (Sysco): Sysco-owned UK broadline foodservice distributor serving restaurants, pubs, healthcare, education, and QSR customers nationwide. Competes with Friars Pride for catering and restaurant accounts and has invested in seafood ranges and chain-ready capabilities.
• Booker Group (Tesco): Tesco-owned UK cash and carry and foodservice wholesaler operating Makro and Booker outlets serving takeaways, restaurants, and caterers with broad range including fish, frozen foods, oils, and packaging. While broadline rather than specialist, it competes on price and convenience for the same SMB foodservice customers.
• Young's Seafood: Major UK seafood manufacturer and supplier offering frozen, chilled, and prepared fish products to retail and foodservice channels. Compares as an upstream seafood supplier rather than direct distributor, but competes for foodservice fish and chip shop procurement and shares the MSC-certified whitefish sourcing focus.

Regional players

• Musgrave MarketPlace: Cash and carry / foodservice wholesaler primarily serving the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland with foodservice ranges for takeaways, chip shops, restaurants, and caterers. Compares to Friars Pride in fish-and-chip focus but operates in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FriarsPrideLtd
• Instagraminstagram.com/friarspride
• Xx.com/FriarsPride

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friars Pride