Scarborough, UK - McCain Foods, the UK’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products, has unveiled its inaugural impact report for the Streets Ahead programme. The initiative, launched by the brand’s foodservice division, aims to support the next generation of food service operators and bolster the UK hospitality sector.
The report reveals that 1 in 3 of the UK hospitality workers surveyed(1) would consider launching their own business within the sector. However, significant challenges including limited access to funding (62.2 percent) and a lack of training and mentorship (37.2 percent) are major barriers to entrepreneurship.
The research also revealed that nearly half of UK residents(2) (48.2 percent believe more support is needed to attract and retain talent in the industry. Over 70.6 percent of respondents consider the sector essential for the UK economy, while 89.06 percent affirm its importance(3) in shaping the nation's culture and communities.
As part of the report and in response to the issues highlighted, McCain is calling upon government to take action and demonstrate policy support for hospitality and entrepreneurship across three areas, aimed to ensure long-term impact. These include:
- Recognising independent food businesses in the Assessment for Future Skills and strengthening support for entrepreneurs from less-advantaged backgrounds
- Making levy-funded training more flexible for the food, drink, and hospitality sectors, supporting initiatives like the Hospitality Skills Passport
- Including hospitality upskilling as part of the Comprehensive Strategy for post-16 education
As part of their own attempts to address these issues, McCain launched the Streets Ahead programme in 2021, powered by KERB+, to support aspiring food entrepreneurs. The programme is designed to break down barriers to entry, offering a clear path for those from disadvantaged backgrounds including refugees, prison leavers, young people facing unemployment, and those experiencing homelessness to succeed in the food industry.
With a robust support system that includes hands-on training, financial investment, and expert mentorship, Streets Ahead equips participants with the vital tools and resources they need to build and sustain successful street food businesses.
Since its launch, the programme has supported over 185 participants from 40+ charities, investing over £240,000 to date and the scheme is currently welcoming new applications.
Richard Jones, Vice President Commercial, McCain Foods GB said, “At McCain, we know there’s incredible untapped potential among aspiring food entrepreneurs who are facing barriers like limited funding and lack of mentorship. The Streets Ahead programme is our way of helping to address this, giving people the tools, investment, and support they need to turn their passion into a successful business, and, in turn, help strengthen the entire sector.”
Hind Danoun, Streets Ahead participant and owner of Utopia said, "The support I received through the Streets Ahead programme helped me turn my passion into a thriving business. When I first joined, I didn’t know much about how to run a street food venture. However, with the in-depth training and the £10,000 investment I received, Utopia is now a vibrant place where I share my culture and bring people together through food.”
To find out more about McCain’s Streets Ahead Programme, powered by Kerb+, download the new report here.
If you are interested in joining the Streets Ahead Programme, you can find out more here.
Participant Stories
Hind Danoun
- After arriving in the UK from Syria, Hind struggled to find a sense of belonging. However, it was through cooking where she was able to build an environment that reflects the culture that she came from. In 2022, she joined Streets Ahead via the charity, TERN, and completed her one-to-one training, impressing McCain with her Sujuk Wrap. Hind secured £10,000 to launch her business, Utopia, with the talented chef now trading her delicious recipes in London. She hopes to open her own bricks-and-mortar location in the future offering Syrian wraps and snack boxes.
Omama Zankawan
- Omama also joined the Streets Ahead programme after arriving in the UK from Syria. When she first landed, she soon realised that she couldn’t live off takeaways forever, which resulted in her learning to cook over enthusiastic video calls with her mum. Omama believes in the power of food, and it was this power that pushed her to eventually start cooking again after her parents passed away. Her talent shone in the Streets Ahead programme, earning her £10,000 from McCain. She now plans to find a market location in the South-East and runs Supper Clubs for refugees.
Yogeswaran Eswaran
- Yogeswaran, once homeless, transformed his life through the Streets Ahead programme after struggling with his mental health. He was referred to the Streets Ahead programme through the?Migrateful charity - an award-winning UK?charity?with a mission to support migrants and refugees on their journey to integration and independence. McCain invested £6,000 in his business, Yogi’s Srilankan Kitchen as his culinary passion and vegan dishes impressed the judges, helping him bring Sri Lankan flavours to London.