Bisto in brief
- Rank: #100 of 100 in UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #14 of 14 in Consumer & FMCG.
- WCRC Power Score: 59.04 out of 100.
- Founded: 1908, by Gerald Roberts and Fred Patterson (Cerebos).
- Owner: Premier Foods plc, St Albans, England.
- Leadership: Alex Whitehouse, Chief Executive Officer, Premier Foods.
- Latest revenue: £1.2bn revenue (FY2026, year to Mar 2026, +2.5%), group revenue of Premier Foods plc, as per company filings.
What makes Bisto powerful
Bisto is woven into British food culture as the gravy of the Sunday roast, and it is one of the core brands of Premier Foods. The group's branded strategy is working: in the 52 weeks to March 2026 headline revenue rose 2.5% to £1,175m, branded revenue grew 3.4% and trading profit rose 6.7% to £200.4m, ahead of guidance.
Premier Foods attributes that growth to its product innovation programme, which keeps heritage brands such as Bisto relevant with new formats and flavours. Grocery branded revenue rose 2.3%, and UK branded revenue accelerated to 5.0% growth in the second half. A 20% increase in the dividend shows the confidence of chief executive Alex Whitehouse in the business. Owned by a UK company focused on British cupboard staples, Bisto benefits from steady marketing support and strong relationships with every major supermarket.
Premier Foods' UK branded revenue rose 5.0% in the second half of 2025/26.
Why Bisto ranks #100
Bisto ranks 100th with a WCRC Power Score of 59.04, just below Pimm's and ahead of Halfords, taking the final place in the ranking. Trust (64) is its strongest pillar, built on generations of Sunday roasts, and positioning and recall (58) and product and innovation (58) reflect a familiar but mature brand. Sustainability and governance and digital and financial strength (56 each) hold it back, as a single brand inside a mid-sized food group.
The Achilles' heel
Gravy is a mature, low-growth category, and Bisto's appeal is strongest with traditional family cooking, which younger consumers do less often. Supermarket own-label gravy granules are cheaper, and grocery branded revenue grew only 2.3% in 2025/26. Bisto is not singled out in Premier Foods' results, which highlight wider branded growth.
The 2026 story
In May 2026 Premier Foods reported results for the year to 28 March 2026, with headline revenue up 2.5% to £1,175m, branded revenue up 3.4% and trading profit up 6.7% to £200.4m, ahead of previously raised guidance. Chief executive Alex Whitehouse credited the product innovation programme, and the company proposed a 20% dividend increase to 3.36p.
Pillar profile
Provisional desk scores out of 100, for the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit to validate.
Versus its nearest rivals
Questions people ask
What rank is Bisto in WCRC's UK's Most Powerful Brands 2026?
Bisto ranks #100 of 100 in WCRC's UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026, with a WCRC Power Score of 59.04 out of 100.
What makes Bisto powerful?
Decades as a kitchen cupboard staple give Bisto deep loyalty, and Premier Foods' innovation programme is growing its branded sales.
What is Bisto's revenue?
£1.2bn revenue (FY2026, year to Mar 2026, +2.5%), group revenue of Premier Foods plc, as per company filings.
Who founded and owns Bisto?
Bisto was founded in 1908 by Gerald Roberts and Fred Patterson (Cerebos). It is owned by Premier Foods plc and based in St Albans, England.
Who leads Bisto?
Alex Whitehouse, Chief Executive Officer, Premier Foods.
What is Bisto's biggest challenge?
A mature category with an older customer base and competition from own-label gravy.
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Key facts
| Brand | Bisto |
|---|---|
| Company / owner | Premier Foods plc |
| Headquarters | St Albans, England, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1908 |
| Founder(s) | Gerald Roberts and Fred Patterson (Cerebos) |
| Leadership | Alex Whitehouse, Chief Executive Officer, Premier Foods |
| Latest revenue | £1.2bn revenue (FY2026, year to Mar 2026, +2.5%), group revenue of Premier Foods plc, as per company filings |
| Sector | Consumer & FMCG |
| Website | bisto.co.uk |
| Home country | United Kingdom |
Sources
- Revenue figure published by Premier Foods plc
- Company website, official announcements and press releases
- Published interviews and statements by the leadership
- WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data
