SIC code 56103 (Take-away food shops and mobile food stands) is one of the most widely used business classifications in the United Kingdom, with 61,137 active companies registered under this code. This makes it one of the largest individual SIC categories in the UK economy. It falls under Section I (Accommodation and food service activities) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Take-away food shops and mobile food stands industry page.
With a 78% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 369 of 77,915 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age of 3.1 years suggests a relatively young and dynamic sector, with many businesses having been established in recent years. Growth has been exceptional recently: 83% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 15%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. Companies are geographically dispersed across the UK, with no single location dominating. The top three locations — LONDON, BIRMINGHAM, GLASGOW — together account for just 19% of the sector.
SIC code 56103 stands for "Take-away food shops and mobile food stands" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section I — Accommodation and food service activities. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 61,137 active companies registered under SIC code 56103 in the UK, out of 77,915 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 78%, meaning 22% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for take-away food shops and mobile food stands companies (SIC 56103) are: LONDON (7,663), BIRMINGHAM (2,294), GLASGOW (1,790), MANCHESTER (1,712), LEEDS (893). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 83% of currently active SIC 56103 companies were formed since 2020, and 15% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for take-away food shops and mobile food stands services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 56103 have an average age of 3.1 years. This young average age reflects a sector with many recent market entrants and rapid turnover. Notable companies include CASPIAN NETWORKS LIMITED, RAIL GOURMET U.K. LIMITED, MOMENTUM SERVICES LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 56101 (Licensed restaurants), 56102 (Unlicensed restaurants and cafes), 56302 (Public houses and bars), 56210 (Event catering activities). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 56103 (Take-away food shops and mobile food stands) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 61,137 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.