British celebrity chef and entrepreneur Jamie Oliver and his wife, Jools Oliver, received a combined dividend of £1.5 million from Jamie Oliver Holdings despite a significant decline in the company’s profits during 2025.
The group’s latest financial accounts, filed on August 18, 2026, show that pre tax profits fell to approximately £1.25 million, down from £2.4 million the previous year. The dividend was also lower than the roughly £2.5 million distributed in the previous year.
Despite the decline in profitability, group revenue remained broadly stable at £28.4 million, compared with £28.6 million in 2024.
Restructuring and new cooking school weigh on profits
The fall in profits was largely attributed to higher costs rather than weaker sales.
The company recorded approximately £1.46 million in exceptional costs linked to restructuring and job reductions within its media operations. Additional expenses were incurred ahead of the opening of the new Jamie Oliver Cookery School at John Lewis on Oxford Street in London.
The flagship cooking school opened in 2025 and occupies more than 4,600 square feet on the third floor of the department store. It features two teaching kitchens and a 50 seat Jamie Oliver Cafe, with more than 40 cooking courses covering everything from pasta and international cuisine to knife skills.
The investment is already showing signs of paying off. Revenue from the group’s cooking schools increased by 48% to £1.6 million.
Restaurant business continues to grow
Jamie Oliver’s restaurant operations also recorded stronger results.
Sales from restaurants directly operated by the group increased 17% to £4.3 million, while revenue from franchised restaurants rose 6.5% to £4 million. Most of the franchise locations are outside the UK.
The group is continuing its international expansion, with new franchise restaurants planned in markets including Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and India. Around 10 new international franchise locations are expected to open during the year.
The developments mark a significant turnaround from 2019, when the Jamie’s Italian restaurant chain collapsed, leaving tens of millions of pounds in debt and around 1,000 jobs lost.
Jamie’s Italian makes a comeback
The Jamie’s Italian brand is now attempting a return to the UK market.
Brava Hospitality Group, which also owns Prezzo Italian, has partnered with Jamie Oliver to relaunch the restaurant concept. A new Jamie’s Italian has opened in Leicester Square in London, with Brava describing the move as the beginning of a “new chapter” for the brand.
Royalties remain a major challenge
One of the weakest areas of the business was royalties, brand licensing and commercial partnerships.
Revenue from these activities fell by almost £2 million to £15.9 million, marking a second consecutive year of decline.
The division includes licensing agreements for Jamie Oliver branded products, including cookware, as well as promotional partnerships. The end of a major agreement with Tesco, which expired in 2024, was one of the factors behind the decline.
However, Oliver’s personal brand continues to perform strongly in publishing and television.
His book Eat Yourself Healthy, released in the UK in September 2025, became an international bestseller, selling almost 70,000 copies during its first week.
Oliver has sold more than 50 million books worldwide, while the international licensing of his television catalogue remains another important source of revenue.
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