Food & Drink

Commercial arrangements

A client is a supplier to the food and drink industry and has entered heads of terms with another market participant to develop their market offering

Managing property portfolios in the pandemic

The client is a large company dealing in the distribution and supply of food, drink and other products mainly to the catering industry in the UK and Europe. 

Thomson Snell & Passmore is proud to have acted for Watts Farms for many years.

Thomson Snell & Passmore is proud to have acted for Watts Farms for many years.  

Thomson Snell & Passmore advises on MBO of Kent Fresh Produce Distributor

Thomson Snell & Passmore has advised on the management buy out of a Kent based fresh produce storage and distributor.

Case Studies on Force Majeure and Frustration

Thomson Snell & Passmore has been asked to support a number of clients in the events and hospitality industry with contractual queries relating to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Thomson Snell & Passmore acts for Rexton Investments Limited on new Burger King site

Alisa Sweeney, Partner in the Commercial Property team at Thomson Snell & Passmore, recently acted for our developer client, Rexton Investments Limited. 

Helping bring Costa Coffee to Rochester Riverside

Our on going relationship with Goldex Investments and their Costa Coffee franchise saw us recently exchange contracts on a new unit at the new Rochester Riverside development near Rochester train station. 

Acting for a member of our Food & Drink club following the expiry of their current lease

We acted in respect of a new lease of a premises in Tonbridge following the expiry of their current lease.

Assisting in the managed exit of a disruptive senior sales representative from the UK subsidiary of a global cheese manufacturer and seller

A sales manager was employed by this UK subsidiary to sell an associated French company’s products in the UK market. The manager did not act in accordance with the French Group’s marketing strategy. Tensions between him and his French colleagues increased when this individual became disengaged and refused to comply with reasonable directions.

Our construction team advised on the construction and fit-out of a fruit packing and distribution centre

Our construction team advised a client of a Kent based fruit grower and distributor on the construction and fit-out of a fruit packing and distribution centre.

Thomson Snell & Passmore advise Watts Farms Fresh Produce Holdings Limited on their joint venture with The Wonky Food Company

We advised long-standing client Watts Farms Fresh Produce Limited in relation to their joint venture with The Wonky Food Company. 

Advising Sticks ‘n’ Sushi’s UK arm on the acquisition of a new premises in central London.

Advising Sticks ‘n’ Sushi’s UK arm on the acquisition of a new premises in central London.  

Advice on Intellectual Property licensing issues related to insolvency

Advice on Intellectual Property licensing issues related to insolvency

Young couple taking over the farming family business

We have recently helped a young couple who have taken over the farming business set up many years ago by the husband’s family in East Sussex.

Acting for growing restaurant chain, Sticks’ n ‘ Sushi

Since January 2015 our commercial property team, (with input from our construction team), have been acting for restaurant chain, Sticks’ n’ Sushi UK Limited (SnS). SnS have a strong base of 9 restaurants in Denmark, and are moving steadily into the UK lucrative but highly competitive restaurant market.

Acting for a large salad and cereals producer

Our employment team have been acting for a large salad and cereals producer since February 2015.

Acting for a leading sandwich manufacturer and distributor

Our employment team have been acting for a leading sandwich manufacturer and distributor since December 2014.

Frontier Agriculture v Bratt Brothers (a Firm) [2015] EWCA Civ 611

A farmer acting in person has successively persuaded the Court of Appeal to set aside an order of the Commercial Court made against him which granted permission to enforce an arbitration award under 66 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

Advising the insurers of cheese importers found to have illegal immigrants within the container

We acted on behalf of the insurers of the leading importer of speciality cheese into the UK.

Advising Swiss commodity traders in a dispute over rice with Indian buyers

We acted on behalf of Swiss based commodity traders in a dispute with Indian based buyers arising from the sale of 10,000 MT of Indian White Rice.

Advising Russian frozen fish distributors

We acted on behalf of the Russian sellers of various consignments of frozen fish which were shipped from Murmansk in Russia for distribution to customers in Portugal.

Compagnie Fruitiere

Compagnie Fruitiere is a large producer, distributor and marketer of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Our food and drink networking club is back

The Food and Drink Networking Club met for its latest meeting on 27 July 2021. It was the first physical meeting for 17 months, hosted at the stunning Balfour Winery on the Hush Heath Estate and complemented by the glorious British sunshine. With lockdown lifted, new and old members met face-to-face to discuss the latest updates, challenges and opportunities experienced by the food and drink community, while enjoying the truly breathtaking view across Balfour’s sunlit vineyards

Logistics and the food industry

The global pandemic has accelerated consumer expectations and demands in the food industry not only in relation to what is available and how quickly, but logistics also plays an ever increasingly important role as the focus of the consumer shifts to the overall customer experience that comes with a product or brand.

‘Shining a light on dark kitchens’

There has been a huge increase in so called ‘dark kitchens’ in recent months. Alisa Sweeney from our commercial property team looks at the impact this is having on the industry and what to consider when setting up a dark kitchen.

Food and Drink Networking Club - latest news

The Food and Drink Networking Club met, albeit virtually, for its latest meeting on 14 January 2021 welcoming new and old members to discuss some of the inevitable challenges as well as opportunities for its community.

Some key takeaways for the food and drinks sector

Despite a trade deal between the United Kingdom and Europe being reached, businesses in the food and drinks sector will face a plethora of changes in 2021.

Food and drink sector: lessons learnt so far since lockdown restrictions lifted

Key considerations for the food and drink industry ahead as lockdown is lifted

Planning for a long hot summer

The importance of getting food labelling right

Furlough shops and restaurants

COVID-19: Managing disruption in the food retail sector

Government to relax planning laws to help the food & beverage sector

New immigration system to bar low-skilled workers - What's the effect on the food and drink sector?

Under a government plan to come into force on January 1st 2021, a new points-based immigration system is likely to seriously reduce the so called ‘low-skilled’ labour pool. Sectors such as the food and beverage industry rely heavily on a labour pool of ‘low-skilled’, foreign workers and there are concerns that these sectors will suffer worst at least in the short term.

Gin, cognac, lager, great food and great stories – October’s Food and Drink Networking Club meet

Debilitating knee injury and gin – how are these connected you might ask!  Well the Food and Drink Networking Club learnt exactly how, from the family run gin business Jonomade Gin on Tuesday 8th October at Verdigris, Tonbridge.  It transpires that son Josh was the brainchild behind the drink whilst resting his injured knee, creating a gin which combines the family’s New Zealand and British heritage, including ingredients such as manuka, cardamom, star anise and fennel.  Josh and his dad Matt have been working on the product since April 2018 in their micro distillery just north of Sevenoaks in Chevening. 

Food and Drink Networking Club’s second anniversary event

The rain stopped and the clouds parted for the Food and Drink Networking Club’s second anniversary event on 11 June 2019 at The Small Holding, Kilndown. 

Jamie’s Italian laid bare

It has been reported that restaurant and business supremo Jamie Oliver’s casual dining showpiece, Jamie’s, is set to enter administration today. 

An evening of warmth, sparkle and good ol’ fish and chips - The Food and Drink Networking Club’s February 2019 event

We set up the food and drink networking club because we wanted local people in the food and drink industry to be able to meet up and make valuable connections.  Our meeting on 12 February at Sankey’s pub and restaurant in Tunbridge Wells was the epitome of what we were trying to achieve.

From farm to fork – The Food and Drink Networking Club’s September event

We are always on the lookout for new and interesting places to host the quarterly Food and Drink Networking Club and this time, we were very kindly hosted by Haywards Farm Shop in Tonbridge

South East restaurant operators optimistic despite the ‘casual dining crunch’

Leading South East law firm Thomson Snell & Passmore recently surveyed clients operating in the UK restaurant sector.

Restaurant Sector Challenges

Dubbed the “Casual Dining Crunch”, is this the end of the mid-tier restaurant market as we know it?

The Horticultural Sector – coping, being positive and carrying on!

The Office for National Statistics published an article in February 2018  “Labour in the agricultural industry, UK: February 2018”

The Gin-aissance

The UK is currently gripped by a gin obsession, with distilleries, bars and new concepts popping up all over the country. Our love for gin does not appear to be slowing down.

The difficulties within the restaurant sector have been well documented in recent press coverage.

Particularly affected is the mid tier, multiple site operators, the so called "Casual Dining Market".  A couple of the bigger names in particular are restructuring/struggling, such as Byron Burger and Jamie’s Italian.

Industry’s quiet month is a boost for networking!

When we founded the Food and Drink Networking Club last year, we didn’t expect to have so many attendees at only our third event, which took place in early January.

Making Connections - Food and Drink Networking

This month saw the second meeting of The Food & Drink Networking Club – and what a meeting it was! The event, sponsored and organised by Thomson Snell & Passmore, was kindly hosted by Will Edge at his beautiful distillery in Shipbourne,

Autumn brings… the Tunbridge Wells Harvest Food Festival

“Autumn,” says Julian Leefe-Griffiths, “is when there is a marked change in the food that we eat.  We put away the barbecue and look forward to more game, winter root vegetables, mushrooms & the like. 

Alisa Sweeney works with Sticks ‘n’ Sushi to secure Nova Victoria Site

Alisa Sweeney from the Commercial Property Team have been delighted to work with restaurant operator, Sticks ‘n’ Sushi, to secure a new site at London’s prestigious Nova Victoria.

How networking should be! The Food & Drink Networking Club.

A beautiful summer’s evening; a community- orientated, independent venue; local food and drink producers; a bar, BBQ and curry.  This was the inaugural Food and Drink Networking Club, hosted by Thomson Snell & Passmore alongside fellow founders, Matthew Sankey of Sankey’s fish restaurants and fishmongers, Caroline Kings of blog, Eat Around Tonbridge & Sam Goode from Tonbridge Old Fire Station, our venue.  We were thrilled at the diversity and numbers of attendees for our first networking event in this sector: there was great representation from the food and drink industry including Kent restauranteurs, café owners, artisan producers and breweries who networked alongside bloggers, photographers & journalists from the world of food and drink

Cutting through the competition

If there was a prize for the ‘Best reaction to winning’ at this year’s Taste of Kent awards, Matt Sworder of The Corner House restaurant, Minster would win hands down! He and his team were visibly delighted at winning the Thomson Snell & Passmore sponsored award for Kent’s Restaurant of the Year, enthusiastically wrapping his arms around the presenter of the award, Thomson Snell & Passmore partner & award judge Alisa Sweeney.

New rules preventing Venture Capital Trust investment to acquire businesses...

Do pubs face further threats? The Finance Act 2015 introduced new rules preventing Venture Capital Trust (VCT) investment to acquire businesses, which has caused considerable speculation that pubs in particular will be hit hardest.