---
title: UK food delivery & meal kits media reputation tracker – H1 2026
canonical_url: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1
type: dataset
publisher: Omniscan
sector: UK Food Delivery & Meal Kits
period: H1 2026
coverage_start: '2026-01-01'
coverage_end: '2026-06-30'
date_published: '2026-09-01'
last_updated: '2026-09-01'
organisations: 5
articles_analysed: 949
mentions: 1120
data_download: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1/data.json
summary: Just Eat had the highest average monthly share of coverage (32.1%) among
  5 companies in UK earned media from 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026, ahead of Deliveroo
  (28.4%) and Uber Eats (26.5%).
---

# UK food delivery & meal kits media reputation tracker: H1 2026 (1 January 2026–30 June 2026)

> Just Eat had the highest average monthly share of coverage (32.1%) among 5 companies in UK earned media from 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026, ahead of Deliveroo (28.4%) and Uber Eats (26.5%). HelloFresh had the most favourable net tone (+25). Omniscan analysed 949 articles containing 1,120 mentions of the companies tracked.

Interactive version: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1

## UK Food Delivery & Meal Kits ranking by share of coverage, H1 2026

| Rank | Organisation | Average monthly share of coverage | Mentions | Positive | Neutral | Negative | Net tone |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Just Eat | 32.1% | 356 | 35% | 42% | 23% | +13 |
| 2 | Deliveroo | 28.4% | 322 | 39% | 46% | 15% | +24 |
| 3 | Uber Eats | 26.5% | 297 | 33% | 47% | 20% | +14 |
| 4 | HelloFresh | 6.9% | 75 | 47% | 32% | 21% | +25 |
| 5 | Gousto | 6.1% | 70 | 36% | 30% | 34% | +1 |

## Monthly share of coverage, UK Food Delivery & Meal Kits

| Organisation | January 2026 | February 2026 | March 2026 | April 2026 | May 2026 | June 2026 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Just Eat | 35.8% | 30.3% | 43.0% | 30.6% | 26.0% | 26.8% |
| Deliveroo | 22.8% | 34.5% | 19.9% | 19.7% | 38.7% | 34.5% |
| Uber Eats | 25.9% | 20.0% | 24.7% | 39.3% | 27.0% | 22.3% |
| HelloFresh | 10.5% | 6.7% | 9.7% | 6.6% | 2.9% | 5.0% |
| Gousto | 4.9% | 8.5% | 2.7% | 3.8% | 5.4% | 11.4% |

## Companies in detail

### Just Eat

**Just Eat’s lead gave way to a broader third-place finish**

Just Eat ranked 1st of 5 by average monthly share of coverage (32.1%) in the UK Food Delivery & Meal Kits benchmark for H1 2026, with 356 mentions and a net tone of +13.

March’s 43.0% share was the period high, contemporaneous with extensive independent reporting on the CMA investigation into potentially misleading restaurant and grocer ratings; no breach had been established. January 2026: Just Eat launched its UK voice-ordering assistant, reported by The Guardian. February 2026: share fell 5.5 percentage points to 30.3% and rank moved from first to second; stories included Just Eat’s robot-delivery trials in Milton Keynes, Bristol and Sunderland. March 2026: the CMA opened an investigation into Just Eat’s ratings system, reported by The Independent. May 2026: more than 7,000 couriers launched worker-status legal action, reported by The Guardian. June 2026: Prosus outlined an operational turnaround after its £3.6bn takeover, reported by The Independent. Just Eat UK grocery and new verticals director Caroline Bates discussed building grocery and retail partnerships to provide rapid customer deliveries. She highlighted loyalty, personalised incentives and convenience as important in the competitive grocery market. Just Eat processed 145,000 orders on Christmas Day, 40% of which were grocery deliveries including last-minute turkey orders. It reported more than 17 million December orders, with Chinese takeaway demand also rising. Just Eat has rolled out an AI voice assistant in the UK to help users select meals, restaurants and other products without scrolling through menus. The company says testing indicated voice-assistant users were more likely to place an order.

Key messages:

- January 2026: Just Eat launched its UK voice-ordering assistant, reported by The Guardian.
- Just Eat UK grocery and new verticals director Caroline Bates discussed building grocery and retail partnerships to provide rapid customer deliveries. She highlighted loyalty, personalised incentives and convenience as important in the competitive grocery market.
- Just Eat processed 145,000 orders on Christmas Day, 40% of which were grocery deliveries including last-minute turkey orders. It reported more than 17 million December orders, with Chinese takeaway demand also rising.
- Just Eat has rolled out an AI voice assistant in the UK to help users select meals, restaurants and other products without scrolling through menus. The company says testing indicated voice-assistant users were more likely to place an order.
- Just Eat is among five businesses facing a CMA investigation into fake or misleading online reviews. The probe will examine whether some restaurant and grocer ratings were inflated; Just Eat said it is cooperating with the regulator.
- Just Eat's Bristol delivery-robot trial faces scrutiny after a councillor said a robot nearly struck her dog. Bristol City Council says it was not informed of or asked to approve the pilot, while Just Eat says it conducted planning and risk assessments.

Leading themes:

- Grocery & Rapid Delivery: 22.8% of Just Eat's coverage (theme index 0.97, net tone +33)
- Consumer, Pricing & Service: 20.5% of Just Eat's coverage (theme index 1.42, net tone −56)
- Technology & Innovation: 18.5% of Just Eat's coverage (theme index 2.32, net tone +59)

Notable positive coverage:

- 8 January 2026, thegrocer.co.uk: [Just Eat's Caroline Bates on loyalty, anchovies and S Club 7](https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/profiles/just-eats-caroline-bates-on-loyalty-anchovies-and-s-club-7/713533.article). Just Eat UK grocery and new verticals director Caroline Bates discussed building grocery and retail partnerships to provide rapid customer deliveries. She highlighted loyalty, personalised incentives and convenience as important in the competitive grocery market.
- 9 January 2026, independent.co.uk: [Just Eat records 145,000 Christmas Day orders amid festive panic-buying](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/eat-grocery-chinese-press-association-b2897318.html). Just Eat reported 145,000 UK orders on Christmas Day, with grocery panic-buying accounting for 40% of deliveries. The platform said December orders exceeded 17 million, supported by grocery and Chinese takeaway demand.
- 9 January 2026, independent.co.uk: [Just Eat sees more than 100,000 Christmas orders as Chinese takeaway demand spikes](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/just-eat-orders-christmas-day-b2897322.html). Just Eat processed 145,000 orders on Christmas Day, 40% of which were grocery deliveries including last-minute turkey orders. It reported more than 17 million December orders, with Chinese takeaway demand also rising.

Notable negative coverage:

- 27 March 2026, independent.co.uk: [Just Eat and Autotrader among five firms under investigation over online reviews](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/competition-and-markets-authority-just-eat-dignity-holly-williams-b2946783.html). The CMA has opened an investigation into Just Eat as part of a crackdown on fake and misleading online reviews. The regulator is examining whether consumer law has been breached.
- 27 March 2026, thisismoney.co.uk: [Just Eat and Autotrader face CMA probe into fake reviews](https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-15684155/Just-Eat-Autotrader-investigated-CMA-launches-fake-reviews-probe.html). The CMA is probing whether Just Eat's ratings system inflated ratings for certain restaurants and grocers, potentially misleading consumers. No finding of a consumer-law breach has yet been made.
- 27 March 2026, independent.co.uk: [Five firms including Autotrader and JustEat face ‘fake reviews’ crackdown](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/fake-reviews-cma-crackdown-autotrader-just-eat-b2946780.html). Just Eat is among five businesses facing a CMA investigation into fake or misleading online reviews. The probe will examine whether some restaurant and grocer ratings were inflated; Just Eat said it is cooperating with the regulator.

- [Just Eat deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1?entity=justeat&view=deep-dive)
- [Just Eat PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1/reports/justeat.pdf)

### Deliveroo

**Grocery & Rapid Delivery shaped Deliveroo's media profile during H1 2026**

Deliveroo ranked 2nd of 5 by average monthly share of coverage (28.4%) in the UK Food Delivery & Meal Kits benchmark for H1 2026, with 322 mentions and a net tone of +24.

Its competitive position varied: it moved from third in January to first in February, returned to third in March and April, and regained first place in May. February’s 11.7-point rise coincided with coverage of Deliveroo Capital, sustainable packaging and DoorDash’s expectations for the acquired business. The share then fell 14.6 points in March, when reporting ranged from an office-catering pilot and Tortilla’s return to serious allegations involving former or purported riders. May produced the largest measured upswing, rising 19 points to 38.7%, alongside stories about restaurant reservations, multi-store Bundles and rapid retail partnerships. Deliveroo ranked first again in June as coverage concentrated on grocery expansion, including Asda’s extension to more than 850 stores and Co-op’s discounted surplus-produce trial. The agenda broadened from January’s advertising and grocery positioning into ownership, restaurant services, technology and increasingly extensive non-food delivery. Visibility peaked in May 2026 at 38.7%, compared with 19.7% in April 2026. January 2026: Deliveroo launched its bear-themed “Now Just Got Even Better” campaign promoting restaurant, grocery and retail delivery, reported by Decision Marketing. February 2026: share rose 11.7 points to 34.5%, volume increased by 20 and rank moved from third to first; stories included the launch of Deliveroo Capital with Liberis.

Key messages:

- Visibility peaked in May 2026 at 38.7%, compared with 19.7% in April 2026.
- January 2026: Deliveroo launched its bear-themed “Now Just Got Even Better” campaign promoting restaurant, grocery and retail delivery, reported by Decision Marketing.
- Deliveroo has launched a dramatic 2026 television advert featuring a couple feeding an angry bear with a delivered meal. The campaign promotes the service's speed, range and local-shop offering.
- Deliveroo client partner Charlotte Grantham describes managing commercial relationships with major supermarkets on the platform. She discusses the company's customer focus and the challenge of sustainably growing retailer partners.
- Deliveroo has launched a more sustainable takeaway box for UK restaurant partners through a partnership with Biopack and Sheffield Hallam University. The design aims to replace plastic-lined containers while maintaining food temperature and preventing spills.
- Deliveroo has partnered with Liberis to launch Deliveroo Capital, offering eligible UK restaurant partners merchant cash advances through its platform. The programme will initially reach 5,000 restaurants before expanding to further merchants and retailers.

Leading themes:

- Grocery & Rapid Delivery: 32.0% of Deliveroo's coverage (theme index 1.62, net tone +43)
- Consumer, Pricing & Service: 14.9% of Deliveroo's coverage (theme index 0.88, net tone +8)
- Restaurants, Commissions & Partnerships: 12.4% of Deliveroo's coverage (theme index 1.03, net tone +25)

Notable positive coverage:

- 16 January 2026, thegrocer.co.uk: [Deliveroo does drama as couple feast with bear](https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/comment-and-opinion/deliveroo-does-drama-as-couple-feast-with-bear/714063.article). Deliveroo has launched a dramatic 2026 television advert featuring a couple feeding an angry bear with a delivered meal. The campaign promotes the service's speed, range and local-shop offering.
- 28 January 2026, thegrocer.co.uk: [My food & drink job: Charlotte Grantham, client partner, Deliveroo](https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/profiles/my-food-and-drink-job-charlotte-grantham-client-partner-deliveroo/714583.article). Deliveroo client partner Charlotte Grantham describes managing commercial relationships with major supermarkets on the platform. She discusses the company's customer focus and the challenge of sustainably growing retailer partners.
- 4 February 2026, thegrocer.co.uk: [Deliveroo launches more sustainable packaging for UK restaurants](https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/deliveroo-launches-more-sustainable-packaging-for-uk-restaurants/714900.article). Deliveroo has launched a more sustainable takeaway box for UK restaurant partners through a partnership with Biopack and Sheffield Hallam University. The design aims to replace plastic-lined containers while maintaining food temperature and preventing spills.

Notable negative coverage:

- 11 March 2026, dailymail.com: [My sister drank herself to death on £1,500-a-month Deliveroo booze](https://www.dailymail.com/health/article-15635041/alcoholic-sister-died-booze-food-delivery-apps-JustEat-Deliveroo.html). A bereaved family says Zoe Hughes spent up to £1,500 a month on alcohol ordered through Deliveroo before her death and is calling for tighter controls on delivery apps. The article raises concerns about alcohol availability through delivery services.
- 23 April 2026, dailymail.com: [Moment masked cyclists in Deliveroo jackets hurl knife into bushes](https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15758695/balaclava-cyclists-deliveroo-jackets-knife-bust-up.html). Footage allegedly shows masked cyclists wearing Deliveroo-branded clothing involved in an altercation in Leicester, although it is unclear whether they worked for the company. The article also recounts a previous case involving a rider account used for Deliveroo deliveries, which the company said it terminated after assisting police.
- 11 March 2026, dailymail.co.uk: [Ex-Deliveroo driver charged with sexual assault of young girl in...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-15636479/Ex-Deliveroo-driver-charged-sexual-assault-young-girl-Dublin.html). A former Deliveroo driver has been charged in Dublin with the sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl and was refused bail. Gardaí said Deliveroo supplied location timestamps and items bearing its branding were seized during the investigation.

- [Deliveroo deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1?entity=deliveroo&view=deep-dive)
- [Deliveroo PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1/reports/deliveroo.pdf)

### Uber Eats

**Uber Eats leads as retail partnerships broaden its media profile**

Uber Eats ranked 3rd of 5 by average monthly share of coverage (26.5%) in the UK Food Delivery & Meal Kits benchmark for H1 2026, with 297 mentions and a net tone of +14.

April’s 39.3% share coincided with coverage of the Nectar integration, Wagamama partnership and Uber’s increased Delivery Hero stake. January 2026: Uber Eats data identified late-night delivery hotspots and changing cuisine searches, reported by The Guardian. February 2026: share fell 5.9 points to 20.0% and rank moved from second to third; stories included the OpenTable reservation partnership and Manna drone-delivery agreement. February 2026: Uber Eats partnered with Manna for its first European drone deliveries, reported by The Irish Times. April 2026: The Times examined Uber Eats’ UK market-share gains and the intensifying takeaway price competition. May 2026: Uber Eats and the London Fire Brigade launched e-bike battery safety guidance and training, reported by the BBC. Uber Eats is expanding its UK Ramadan support programme, distributing dates, water and free Iftar meals to fasting couriers. It is also partnering with Popeyes and 35 independent restaurants and hosting Iftar dinners for drivers. Joe & the Juice has formed a nationwide partnership with Uber Eats to offer on-demand delivery of drinks, sandwiches and breakfast items. Uber Eats says its UK network covers more than 70 towns and cities and reaches 90% of the population. Uber Eats and Starship Technologies are expanding their robotic food-delivery service from Leeds to Sheffield following an initial UK rollout. The companies say autonomous couriers could improve delivery efficiency and reduce emissions.

Key messages:

- January 2026: Uber Eats data identified late-night delivery hotspots and changing cuisine searches, reported by The Guardian.
- Uber Eats is expanding its UK Ramadan support programme, distributing dates, water and free Iftar meals to fasting couriers. It is also partnering with Popeyes and 35 independent restaurants and hosting Iftar dinners for drivers.
- Joe & the Juice has formed a nationwide partnership with Uber Eats to offer on-demand delivery of drinks, sandwiches and breakfast items. Uber Eats says its UK network covers more than 70 towns and cities and reaches 90% of the population.
- Uber Eats and Starship Technologies are expanding their robotic food-delivery service from Leeds to Sheffield following an initial UK rollout. The companies say autonomous couriers could improve delivery efficiency and reduce emissions.
- Wagamama has formed its first new delivery-aggregator partnership in a decade with Uber Eats, beginning in Newcastle before expanding nationally. The companies will also connect their Soul Club and Uber One loyalty programmes.
- Sainsbury's Nectar360 has added Uber and Uber Eats to its loyalty scheme, enabling members to redeem points for vouchers used on rides and food delivery. The partnership is described as Uber's first integration with a large-scale UK coalition loyalty scheme.

Leading themes:

- Grocery & Rapid Delivery: 25.6% of Uber Eats's coverage (theme index 1.14, net tone +24)
- Consumer, Pricing & Service: 19.9% of Uber Eats's coverage (theme index 1.32, net tone −19)
- Restaurants, Commissions & Partnerships: 18.5% of Uber Eats's coverage (theme index 1.88, net tone +51)

Notable positive coverage:

- 26 February 2026, easterneye.biz: [Uber and Uber Eats launch Ramadan support programme for UK couriers and independent restaurants](https://www.easterneye.biz/uber-ubereats-ramadan-support-uk/). Uber Eats is expanding its UK Ramadan support programme, distributing dates, water and free Iftar meals to fasting couriers. It is also partnering with Popeyes and 35 independent restaurants and hosting Iftar dinners for drivers.
- 10 March 2026, thegrocer.co.uk: [Joe & the Juice partners with Uber Eats to scale fast delivery ...](https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/joe-and-the-juice-partners-with-uber-eats-to-scale-fast-delivery-across-uk/716240.article). Joe & the Juice has formed a nationwide partnership with Uber Eats to offer on-demand delivery of drinks, sandwiches and breakfast items. Uber Eats says its UK network covers more than 70 towns and cities and reaches 90% of the population.
- 25 March 2026, uktech.news: [Uber Eats and Starship expand robotic deliveries to new UK city - UKTN](https://www.uktech.news/foodtech/uber-and-starship-expand-robotic-deliveries-to-new-uk-city-20260325). Uber Eats and Starship Technologies are expanding their robotic food-delivery service from Leeds to Sheffield following an initial UK rollout. The companies say autonomous couriers could improve delivery efficiency and reduce emissions.

Notable negative coverage:

- 26 January 2026, dailymail.co.uk: [I was an Uber Eats driver - this is why my highlight was the first day](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15404481/uber-eats-driver-deliveries-highlight.html). A former Uber Eats cyclist describes low pay, difficulty securing enough orders and operational problems faced by delivery riders in London. The article also examines alleged account renting and identity mismatches among couriers, alongside Uber Eats' stricter selfie checks.
- 19 May 2026, nypost.com: [Uber Eats driver caught stomping on customer’s food outside her front door: ‘I thought a fox got to it’](https://nypost.com/2026/05/19/lifestyle/uber-eats-driver-stomps-on-food-order-in-wild-video/). A London Uber Eats customer said a courier stomped on and kicked her delivered Popeyes order after she did not answer the door. She said Uber Eats had not responded to her complaint at the time of publication.
- 15 May 2026, bbc.com: [Dad 'would still be here' without Uber Eats alcohol deliveries](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g0zyr409no). The daughters of a Kent man who died from alcohol-related problems are calling for tighter controls on alcohol ordered through delivery apps, citing repeated Uber Eats orders. Uber Eats said it requires age and sobriety checks and can review or restrict customer accounts where necessary, while the Home Office is examining applicable licensing safeguards.

- [Uber Eats deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1?entity=ubereats&view=deep-dive)
- [Uber Eats PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1/reports/ubereats.pdf)

### HelloFresh

**HelloFresh visibility swung between campaigns and financial pressure**

HelloFresh ranked 4th of 5 by average monthly share of coverage (6.9%) in the UK Food Delivery & Meal Kits benchmark for H1 2026, with 75 mentions and a net tone of +25.

February’s smaller footprint was dominated by meal-kit reviews and comparisons, alongside coverage of a weak fourth-quarter update and the company’s engineering apprenticeship programme. March’s share rose to 9.7%, while stories included below-expectation fourth-quarter profit, weaker guidance, the shift towards ready-to-eat products and growing demand for 15-minute meals. The subsequent contraction included further service comparisons, Green Chef reviews and May reporting that first-quarter adjusted EBITDA was €23.6 million, exceeding analyst expectations. June broadened the agenda beyond meal kits through the proposed Banbury closure, suspension of alcohol samples, a new recipe-extraction feature and a new UK campaign. January 2026: HelloFresh became the official sponsor of the Scouts’ Chef Badge, reported by The Grocer. February 2026: share fell 3.8 points to 6.7% and rank moved from fourth to fifth; The Independent published a month-long HelloFresh meal-kit review. June 2026: the BBC reported HelloFresh’s proposal to close its Banbury distribution centre and consolidate activity in Derby. HelloFresh Group appointed Ready10 as retained UK consumer PR agency for HelloFresh and Green Chef. The agency will support campaigns intended to broaden the brands beyond weekly meal subscriptions. A consumer compares meal-kit subscriptions from HelloFresh, Gousto and Grubby after using Gousto for more than a month. Gousto is described as cheaper and more varied than HelloFresh, while HelloFresh is described as beginner-friendly but somewhat repetitive.

Key messages:

- January 2026: HelloFresh became the official sponsor of the Scouts’ Chef Badge, reported by The Grocer.
- HelloFresh Group appointed Ready10 as retained UK consumer PR agency for HelloFresh and Green Chef. The agency will support campaigns intended to broaden the brands beyond weekly meal subscriptions.
- A consumer compares meal-kit subscriptions from HelloFresh, Gousto and Grubby after using Gousto for more than a month. Gousto is described as cheaper and more varied than HelloFresh, while HelloFresh is described as beginner-friendly but somewhat repetitive.
- HelloFresh says UK return-to-office patterns have increased demand for its fast meal options, with 15-minute meal orders rising year on year. It is expanding its menu range, customisation and quick-cook recipes in response.
- HelloFresh has proposed closing its Banbury site as part of a review of UK operations and consolidating activity at its Derby production facility. The company said it is consulting employees and will consider redeployment options.
- HelloFresh has suspended alcohol-sample campaigns after a Suffolk customer in addiction recovery received an unsolicited can of cider with her meal kit. The company said it was investigating the matter and taking it seriously.

Leading themes:

- Meal Kits & Subscriptions: 72.0% of HelloFresh's coverage (theme index 20.34, net tone +37)
- Financial Results & Ownership: 12.0% of HelloFresh's coverage (theme index 1.59, net tone −56)
- Leadership & Strategy: 9.3% of HelloFresh's coverage (theme index 1.41, net tone +14)

Notable positive coverage:

- 7 January 2026, marcommnews.com: [HELLOFRESH GROUP APPOINTS READY10 TO HELLOFRESH AND GREEN CHEF BRIEFS](https://marcommnews.com/hellofresh-group-appoints-ready10-to-hellofresh-and-green-chef-briefs/). HelloFresh Group appointed Ready10 as retained UK consumer PR agency for HelloFresh and Green Chef. The agency will support campaigns intended to broaden the brands beyond weekly meal subscriptions.
- 13 January 2026, internetretailing.net: [HelloFresh Scouts partnership brings cooking skills and sustainability to UK families](https://internetretailing.net/hellofresh-scouts-partnership-brings-cooking-skills-and-sustainability-to-uk-families/). HelloFresh UK & Ireland has become official sponsor of the Scouts' Chef Badge through a nationwide partnership. The programme promotes cooking skills, nutrition, food safety and waste reduction among young people.
- 13 January 2026, thegrocer.co.uk: [HelloFresh sponsors Scouts' Chef Badge](https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/hellofresh-sponsors-scouts-chef-badge/713894.article). HelloFresh UK & Ireland has become the official sponsor of Scouts' Chef Badge and will help develop cooking, nutrition and food-waste resources. The programme is intended to reach hundreds of thousands of young people.

Notable negative coverage:

- 4 June 2026, bbc.com: [HelloFresh distribution centre in Banbury set to close](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx21rrzdxwgo). HelloFresh has proposed closing its Banbury distribution centre, where about 270 people are employed, subject to consultation. The company plans to consolidate UK operations at its more technologically advanced Derby site.
- 12 June 2026, bbc.com: [Suffolk woman's campaign stops HelloFresh's free alcohol](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxdzy2ded3o). HelloFresh suspended alcohol-sampling campaigns after a Suffolk customer in addiction recovery objected to receiving an unsolicited cider sample with her meal kit. The company said it was investigating the matter.
- 9 June 2026, spectator.com: [HelloFresh’s stomach-churning Pride ad](https://spectator.com/article/hellofresh-stomach-churning-pride-ad/). HelloFresh drew divided reactions to a Pride Month Instagram post promoting high-fibre recipes and a related discount code. The article highlights criticism, subscription-cancellation threats and some supportive audience responses.

- [HelloFresh deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1?entity=hellofresh&view=deep-dive)
- [HelloFresh PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1/reports/hellofresh.pdf)

### Gousto

**Restructuring spike gave way to product-led coverage**

Gousto ranked 5th of 5 by average monthly share of coverage (6.1%) in the UK Food Delivery & Meal Kits benchmark for H1 2026, with 70 mentions and a net tone of +1.

Its competitive position fluctuated between fourth and fifth, with February’s rise to 8.5% followed by a fall to 2.7% in March. February broadened the profile through Valentine’s meal-kit reviews, direct competitor comparisons and chief executive Timo Boldt’s discussion of Gousto’s growth, profitability and international ambitions. Visibility recovered from March through May, when reporting included Gousto’s 10% revenue growth to £342m, third consecutive profitable year and record adjusted EBITDA of £45m. May also introduced substantial employment-related coverage after a tribunal upheld the dismissal of a factory worker over contamination and safety concerns. Gousto reached its highest measured share in June at 11.4%, alongside extensive reporting about the proposed closure of its Clay Lake warehouse and the 290 jobs at risk. Visibility peaked in June 2026 at 11.4%, compared with 2.7% in March 2026. January 2026: The Grocer reported Gousto’s intentionally ultra-processed Big Secret burger and call for clearer nutritional information. February 2026: share rose 3.6 points to 8.5% and rank improved from fifth to fourth; stories included Valentine’s meal-kit tests and Timo Boldt’s BBC interview about food policy, profitability and expansion. March 2026: City AM covered Boldt’s response to weight-loss drugs and Gousto’s interest in healthier cooking and potential insurance partnerships.

Key messages:

- Visibility peaked in June 2026 at 11.4%, compared with 2.7% in March 2026.
- January 2026: The Grocer reported Gousto’s intentionally ultra-processed Big Secret burger and call for clearer nutritional information.
- Gousto CEO Timo Boldt argues that the UK food system encourages unhealthy, ultra-processed diets and sets out his proposed policy changes. He describes Gousto's value proposition, previous growth, move towards profitability and plans for eventual international expansion.
- Gousto founder Timo Boldt argues that healthier cooking habits are needed alongside weight-loss drugs and says Gousto has seen growing demand for healthy food. He discusses Gousto's nearly 5m customers, meal-kit production, personalisation technology and potential health-insurance partnerships.
- A consumer compares meal-kit subscriptions from HelloFresh, Gousto and Grubby after using Gousto for more than a month. Gousto is described as cheaper and more varied than HelloFresh, while HelloFresh is described as beginner-friendly but somewhat repetitive.
- Gousto reported 10% revenue growth to £342m in 2025, a third consecutive year of underlying profitability and record adjusted EBITDA of £45m. The meal-kit company said its AI-led menu planning and supplier relationships would help limit the effect of future food-inflation increases on customers.

Leading themes:

- Meal Kits & Subscriptions: 52.9% of Gousto's coverage (theme index 10.28, net tone +43)
- Leadership & Strategy: 30.0% of Gousto's coverage (theme index 5.73, net tone −71)
- Riders, Couriers & Employment Rights: 8.6% of Gousto's coverage (theme index 0.86, net tone −67)

Notable positive coverage:

- 26 January 2026, thegrocer.co.uk: [Gousto creates 'UK's most addictive burger' in UPF-ridden jab at ...](https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/gousto-creates-uks-most-addictive-burger-in-upf-ridden-jab-at-fast-food-industry/714405.article). Gousto created an intentionally ultra-processed, high-salt and high-sugar burger meal to highlight techniques used by fast-food brands to encourage cravings. It said the meal would not be sold and called for clearer nutritional information and more accessible scratch cooking.
- 5 February 2026, bbc.com: [BBC Audio | Business Matters | #24 Gousto CEO: The UK's Food System is Broken.](https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/p0mz41j2). Gousto CEO Timo Boldt argues that the UK food system encourages unhealthy, ultra-processed diets and sets out his proposed policy changes. He describes Gousto's value proposition, previous growth, move towards profitability and plans for eventual international expansion.
- 19 March 2026, cityam.com: [Gousto founder: Rise of weight-loss jabs 'a depressing state of affairs'](https://www.cityam.com/gousto-founder-rise-of-weight-loss-jabs-a-depressing-state-of-affairs/). Gousto founder Timo Boldt argues that healthier cooking habits are needed alongside weight-loss drugs and says Gousto has seen growing demand for healthy food. He discusses Gousto's nearly 5m customers, meal-kit production, personalisation technology and potential health-insurance partnerships.

Notable negative coverage:

- 24 June 2026, independent.co.uk: [Gousto plans to close Lincolnshire warehouse with 290 jobs at risk](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/warrington-lincolnshire-cheshire-b3002058.html). Gousto plans to close its Clay Lake warehouse in Lincolnshire and consolidate production at its Warrington facility, putting around 290 jobs at risk. The company said the move is intended to improve efficiency, support investment and keep customer prices low.
- 10 May 2026, bbc.com: [Food packer sacked for eating stolen peanuts in Gousto factory](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cddpevlenv1o). An employment tribunal rejected a former Gousto factory worker's unfair-dismissal claim after CCTV evidence showed her eating peanuts on the production floor. Gousto said the dismissal related to food-contamination health and safety rules.
- 25 June 2026, express.co.uk: [Huge UK food warehouse announces closure - 100s of jobs at risk](https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2221585/huge-uk-food-warehouse-closure). Gousto has proposed closing its Clay Lake warehouse in Lincolnshire, placing around 290 jobs at risk. Production could be moved to its Warrington site.

- [Gousto deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1?entity=gousto&view=deep-dive)
- [Gousto PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1/reports/gousto.pdf)

## Methodology

- **Share of coverage**: an organisation's mentions divided by all mentions of the organisations tracked in the same sector that month, in UK earned media. It is the central measure of media visibility in Omniscan benchmarks. "Average monthly share" is the mean of the monthly shares across the reporting period.
- **Mention**: one article that covers an organisation, classified as positive, neutral or negative in tone. Articles are deduplicated, and an organisation's own websites and passing sponsorship name-checks are excluded, so only earned media counts.
- **Net tone**: positive mentions minus negative mentions, as a percentage of all mentions (range −100 to +100).
- **Themes**: every article is assigned to one of the sector's editorial themes. A theme index above 1 means the organisation is covered on that theme more than its peers are; below 1 means less.
- **Calculation**: every figure is computed directly from the classified articles; narrative summaries are checked against those figures.
- **Sources**: UK national and international, trade and specialist, regional and local, and aggregator and syndication earned media.

## Other UK Food Delivery & Meal Kits editions

- [UK food delivery & meal kits media reputation tracker – 2026 year to date](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-ytd.md)
- [UK food delivery & meal kits media reputation tracker – July 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-07.md)
- [UK food delivery & meal kits media reputation tracker – August 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-08.md)
- [UK food delivery & meal kits media reputation tracker – September 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-09.md)
- [All Omniscan media benchmarks](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks.md)

## How to cite

Omniscan, "UK food delivery & meal kits media reputation tracker", H1 2026 (1 January 2026–30 June 2026), published 1 September 2026. https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-food-delivery-meal-kits-2026-h1