UK Food Testing Services Market

UK Food Testing Services Market Outlook 2025 to 2035

The UK Food testing Services market is expected to reach USD 1,370.6 million in 2025, reaching a total value of USD 3,279.7 million by 2035. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2035.

Metric	Value
Industry Size (2025E)	USD 1,370.6 million
Industry Value (2035F)	USD 3,279.7 million
CAGR (2025 to 2035)	9.1%

The food testing services sector in the UK has been steadily prospering, attributing monopolistic growth to the rules set by the government, increased knowledge and choice of the populace, as well as the advancements in analytical testing methods.

This market is the most important channel of all for food safety and quality, it deals with problems related to food contamination, allergens, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and nutritional labeling compliance. The major types of food testing services involve microbiological testing, chemical analysis, allergen testing, and GMO detection. These services are provided for various food items including dairy, meat, bakery, beverages, and processed foods.

Major uses of food testing services in the UK involve meeting the requirements of regulations from the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), European Union (EU) food safety standards, and retailer-specific quality standards. Many manufacturers and food processors are now opting for the help of third-party analytics services to do fast and elaborate compliance with their customer demands or are putting investments in laboratory tests to cope with the stress of being in the market.

Some of the prominent companies in the UK market are Eurofins Scientific, ALS Limited, SGS SA, Intertek Group plc and Microbac Laboratories. The companies are fervently innovating by employing advanced techniques such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) while also expanding their laboratory nations in order to gain an additional market percentage. The manufacturers' proclivity indicates a fresh shoot towards speedy, automatic tests which not only increase precision but also reduce the turn-around time.

Industry dynamics are characterized by stricter and more complex food supply chains, stronger consumer desire for clarity, and higher food poisoning bacteria rates. Moreover, the UK leaving the EU has led to changes in food safety regulations, which have caused new compliance problems for businesses and, hence, have increased the need for specialized testing services.

Semi-Annual Market Update for the UK Food testing Services Market

The table below offers a detailed comparative assessment of the changes in the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over six months for the base year (2024) and the current year (2025) specifically for the UK Food testing Services market.

This semi-annual analysis highlights crucial shifts in market dynamics and outlines revenue realization patterns, providing stakeholders with a more precise understanding of the growth trajectory within the year. The first half of the year, H1, covers January to June, while the second half, H2, spans July to December.

H1 signifies period from January to June, H2 Signifies period from July to December.

Recent Developments

Date	Development/M&A Activity & Details
March 2024	Eurofins Scientific opened a new food testing laboratory in Manchester, aiming to enhance its regional presence and cater to increasing demand for rapid testing.
June 2024	ALS Limited launched a rapid allergen testing service in the UK, significantly reducing testing time and catering to the rising prevalence of food allergies.
October 2024	Intertek Group plc collaborated with a major UK retailer to provide bespoke in-house food testing solutions tailored to meet updated regulatory requirements.
December 2024	SGS SA expanded its UK operations by investing in a new state-of-the-art laboratory facility to strengthen its position in microbiological and chemical testing.
November 2024	Microbac Laboratories introduced a block chain-based traceability platform, enhancing transparency and authenticity across the UK food supply chain.

Key Industry Highlights

Block chain Revolutionizes Food Traceability Allocation

Block chain technology is undergoing a massive metamorphosis in the UK food testing industry. It is the ruling technology that ensures the rap of the system is stable from the root level to the top. Thus, creating an audience and attracting customers through supply chain authentication and transparency. For instance, one of the companies, Microbac Laboratories has begun to use a block chain-enabled platform to cover the concerns of food fraud and food contamination. '

Such an innovation is especially relevant when addressing case scenarios of intricate food supply chains that are difficult to monitor concerning the source and quality. The adjustment to block chain is also due to the increasing regulatory duties to promote food quality and eliminate fraud in the UK.

Rapid Allergen Testing Becomes a Necessity

Food allergen testing has taken a significant and fast turn in the UK, especially with the rise of food allergies in consumers. The opening of a rapid allergen testing service by ALS Limited displays the determination of the industry against such problems. Fast service, which is less than 24 hours, allows manufacturers to act quickly to possible allergen contamination problems.

This is the primary trend that follows the direction given by both customers and retailers who advocate forsaking of the products guaranteed free of allergens. Food manufacturers are among the companies benefiting most from the introduction of ergonomic technology which enables the delivery of the allergen test within a reasonable budget.

Automation Enhances Laboratory Efficiency

Automation has been a breakthrough in the execution of processes and testing in food laboratories is no exception in the UK. Eurofins Scientific integrates robotic sample handling with AI-powered data analysis to maximize the testing accuracy and cut the turnaround time.

These advancements help the laboratories process more samples and at the same time ensure strict quality control. Automation is a further aid to the reduction of human error, which by itself is a big asset for large-scale food testing operations. In the wake of the ferocious competition, laboratories are switching to automation at a faster pace to keep ahead.

An analysis of UK Food testing Services Categories by Testing Method and Engagement type

% share of Individual categories by Testing Method and Engagement type in 2025

Dominance of Microbiological and Chemical Testing Methods

The testing methods for microorganisms in addition to chemical testing, are major contributors to the revenue of the UK market, accounting for 35.3%. Microbial testing is the most prominent sector and its increased significance is due to the health problems that arise due to bacterial contamination concerning meat, dairy, and fresh produce.

Furthermore, the growth of the clean-label trend, has surged the demand amongst technical methods for chemical testing aimed at detecting pesticide residues, and contaminants. The leaders in the field are focusing their spending on the latest machines that would eliminate the backlog of the demand of specific tests completed quickly and accurately.

In-House Testing: Ensuring Timeliness and Data Security

The UK food testing services market is largely owned and run by the company of the in-house testing and analytics services, which contributes 58.6% of the revenue. The big companies such as Tesco and Unilever are in the lead with in-house testing as it enables them to control the testing timelines and eld data integrity.

These facilities are at the forefront with advanced technology which allows real-time monitoring and therefore they are able to comply with regulations quickly. However, the third-party testing providers like SGS SA and ALS Limited are the ones who are completing their tasks with the companies that are cost-effective, Bureauveritas serices while not compromising quality.

Market Concentration and Competitive Landscape

The UK food testing services market has a weak consolidation with a few big companies like Eurofins Scientific and Intertek Group plc holding a sizeable part of the market. These companies target the expansion of the testing portfolio, enhancements to laboratory infrastructure, and the use of advanced technologies. Innovation and growth are also seen in the Tier 2 company ALS Limited, which is rendering its clientele a different verity of tests it can perform.

Parasite and GMO analysis for main applications. Intensifying rivalry is visible by the companies launching quick testing systems and block chain-based traceability schemes. New strategies aimed at localization and customization for changing regulatory requirements and business customer demo scopes have been highlighted, for instance, the commissioning of a UK-based testing firm by SGS SA.

2025 Market share of UK Food testing Services suppliers

Key Segmentation

By Testing Method:

Dairy Products Testing Methods, Dietary Supplements Testing Methods, Food Testing Methods, Meat Testing Analysis, and others

By Engagement Type:

In House/ Captive Testing and Analytics Services, and 3rd Party/ Independent Testing and Analytics Service Providers