Business Energy for Restaurants & Catering
Competitively priced gas and electricity for commercial kitchens, cafés and takeaways, where energy is one of your biggest controllable costs. Enter your postcode to start saving.
- Built for busy kitchens
- Gas & electric compared
- Whole-of-market comparison
- Multi-site made simple
Compare Business Energy
Enter your business premises postcode to start
Free, no-obligation advice
- Built for busy kitchens
- Gas & electric compared
- Whole-of-market comparison
- Multi-site made simple
A commercial kitchen is an energy machine
Ovens, fryers, grills, dishwashers and walk-in fridges mean a commercial kitchen can use around ten times the energy of a typical building. Most restaurants spend between £1,000 and £3,200 a month on gas and electricity, so getting the contract right protects margins that are already tight.
Restaurants
Cafés & coffee shops
Takeaways
Fast food
Bakeries
Catering companies
Canteens
Dark kitchens
Why catering energy is different
Few premises pack as much heavy equipment into as small a space as a working kitchen, which is why catering is one of the most energy-intensive sectors.
Heavy kitchen equipment
Combi ovens, fryers, grills and dishwashers draw a lot of power, often all firing at once through a busy service.
Refrigeration runs 24/7
Walk-ins, fridges and freezers never switch off. In studies, refrigeration was the single biggest electricity user at around 70 kWh a day.
Heat & ventilation
Only around 40% of a kitchen’s energy ends up in the food. The rest becomes heat, which extraction and cooling then have to fight.
Sharp peaks at service
Everything ramps up together at lunch and dinner, creating short, intense demand spikes that shape your bill.
Where we cut your kitchen energy costs
Because only about 40% of kitchen energy goes into the food, there’s real waste to claw back. Studies put potential savings from better behaviour and maintenance at up to 70% and 45%. We start with the contract, then help you tackle the rest.
How we help your catering business save
Getting started takes a couple of minutes, and our team does the heavy lifting.
Enter your postcode
Enter your premises postcode or call us. We’ll find your meter and usage and learn how you trade. Call our energy experts on 01242 32 31 31.
We compare the market
We match you to gas and electricity tariffs that suit a heavy-usage kitchen and your trading pattern.
Choose your deal
Pick the contract that’s right for your business, with our catering specialists on hand to talk it through.
We handle the switch
Your new supplier takes care of the switch, with no interruption to your supply at any point.
Running several sites or a catering group? We consolidate multi-site energy onto one bill. . Call 01242 32 31 31 and we’ll do the legwork for you.
Win £1000 towards your business energy bills
Restaurant & catering energy, answered
How much energy does a restaurant use?
It varies with size and menu, but a commercial kitchen can use around ten times the business energy of a typical building, and most restaurants spend between £1,000 and £3,200 a month on gas and electricity. Across the UK, the catering industry uses an estimated 20,600 million kWh a year.
What uses the most energy in a commercial kitchen?
Refrigeration is usually the biggest single user because it runs around the clock. In one study of UK pub restaurants, fridges and freezers averaged about 70 kWh a day, with grills and combination ovens close behind. Heating, ventilation and hot water also add up.
How can a restaurant cut its energy costs?
Start with the contract, since the wrong tariff or out-of-contract rates are the most common cause of overpaying. Then tackle waste: only around 40% of kitchen energy goes into the food, so better maintenance, efficient appliances, fridge seals and staff switch-off routines can save a lot.
Is gas or electricity cheaper for a commercial kitchen?
Per unit, business gas is usually cheaper than business electricity, so gas hobs and ovens can cost less to run. However, modern electric induction is very efficient and faster to heat, which can close the gap. The best mix depends on your equipment, and we compare both so you can decide.
What’s the best tariff for a restaurant or café?
A fixed-rate contract usually suits catering best, locking in your unit rate and standing charge so a single-pence change can’t quietly inflate a heavy annual bill. We compare fixed terms from one to five years and advise on the best time to lock in.
Can you manage energy across multiple sites?
Yes. Restaurant groups, café chains and catering companies can consolidate every site onto one supplier, with one bill and one renewal date, even where contracts currently end on different dates. It cuts admin and your combined usage can unlock a better rate.
Does my kitchen need a half-hourly meter?
If your site’s peak demand reaches 100kW, a half-hourly (HH) meter is required by law. Larger restaurants and busy commercial kitchens can fall into this band. HH meters give detailed usage data, which our team uses to sharpen your deal.
Will switching interrupt my supply?
No. Switching only changes the company that bills and manages your supply. The cables, pipes and physical supply stay exactly the same, with no interruption, so your kitchen keeps running through service as normal.
How much could my business save?
It depends on your current rates, contract and usage, but catering sites on out-of-contract or default rates are often overpaying significantly. The quickest way to find out is to compare with your postcode or speak to a catering specialist.
Compare business energy prices today
Enter your business postcode and compare live rates in 60 seconds, or speak to an expert for a bespoke comparison tailored to your premises.
Free, no-obligation advice