---
title: Food & Meal Benefits for UK Teams | SideUp
description: Give your team a flexible food budget for groceries, meal kits and a proper lunch, all on one SideUp card. Built for UK employers.
---
[Skip to main content](https://sideup.com/en-gb/food#main-content)
[](https://sideup.com/?hsLang=en-gb)
- Solutions
Tax-free Benefits
HMRC-compliant, tax free benefits for core needs.
[Homeworking Allowance & Equipment Home working costs and kit](https://sideup.com/en-gb/work-from-home?hsLang=en-gb) [Work-Related Training & Tuition Learning linked to the job](https://sideup.com/en-gb/work-related-training-tuition?hsLang=en-gb) [Nursery Partnership Workplace nursery places](https://sideup.com/en-gb/child-care?hsLang=en-gb) [Bike Share Pass Cycling for the commute](https://sideup.com/en-gb/commuting?hsLang=en-gb) [DSE Eyecare Eye tests and screen glasses](https://sideup.com/en-gb/dse-eyecare?hsLang=en-gb) [Canteen Credit Meals at work](https://sideup.com/en-gb/food) [Retirement Guidance Pension advice for your team](https://sideup.com/en-gb/financial-education?hsLang=en-gb) [Payroll Giving Give to charity before tax](https://sideup.com/en-gb/charitable-giving?hsLang=en-gb)
Lifestyle Benefits
Flexible budgets for everyday life. Give your team the power of choice.
[Wellness & Fitness Gym, mental health & wellbeing](https://sideup.com/en-gb/wellbeing-fitness?hsLang=en-gb) [Pet Care Vets, food and pet insurance](https://sideup.com/en-gb/pet-care?hsLang=en-gb) [Food & Meal Meals, groceries & nutrition](https://sideup.com/en-gb/food) [Personal Learning & Growth Courses for personal growth](https://sideup.com/en-gb/work-related-training-tuition?hsLang=en-gb) [Commuting Allowance Travel to and from work](https://sideup.com/en-gb/commuting?hsLang=en-gb) [Leisure & Connection Entertainment, coffee and travel](https://sideup.com/en-gb/work-from-home?hsLang=en-gb) [Charitable Giving Support the causes you love](https://sideup.com/en-gb/charitable-giving?hsLang=en-gb)
- Platform
For Employers
Set budgets, track spend and stay compliant, all from one platform.
[Manage Benefits Budgets, eNPS and recognition](https://sideup.com/en-gb/manage-your-platform?hsLang=en-gb) [Integrations Connect with your favourite tools](https://sideup.com/integrations?hsLang=en-gb) [Trust Centre Security, privacy and compliance](https://hi.sideup.com/en-gb/trust)
For Employees
One card and one app for every benefit, so spending is simple.
[How to spend benefits Discover how to use your SideUp card](https://hi.sideup.com/en-gb/how-to-spend-your-benefits)
- [Stayconomics](https://sideup.com/stayconomics?hsLang=en-gb)
Learn with Stayconomics
Explore the ideas, research, and strategies behind workplaces people choose to stay in.
[Blog Data-backed, no-fluff articles on retention, benefits, and the future of work.](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/tag/blog) [Podcast On Youtube and Spotify with the leaders who are actually figuring it out.](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/podcast) [Newsletter The best of what's happening in HR and employee retention, curated, concise, and worth your Monday morning.](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/tag/newsletter) [Events & Webinars Real experts, real questions, real takeaways you can use before the week is over.](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/events-webinars) [Explore by Topics Retention, benefits, HR tech, financial wellness, and more, organized by what you need.](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/topics-1) Guides & Tools Iterative Tools and Guides
- Company
Know more about us
Who we are, who we work with and how to reach us.
[Partnerships Grow with us, as a partner, reseller or local business.](https://sideup.com/en-gb/partnership?hsLang=en-gb) About us The story and the people behind SideUp. Brandbook Our logo, colours and voice, ready to use. [Contact us Questions, ideas or a demo? Say hello.](https://sideup.com/en-gb/contact-us?hsLang=en-gb)
- Log in
- [Business](https://admin.sideup.com)
- [Employee](https://app.sideup.com)
[Book a demo](https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/lana-leles/demo)
- Solutions
- Tax-free Benefits
- [Homeworking Allowance & Equipment](https://sideup.com/en-gb/work-from-home?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Work-Related Training & Tuition](https://sideup.com/en-gb/work-related-training-tuition?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Nursery Partnership](https://sideup.com/en-gb/child-care?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Bike Share Pass](https://sideup.com/en-gb/commuting?hsLang=en-gb)
- [DSE Eyecare](https://sideup.com/en-gb/dse-eyecare?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Canteen Credit](https://sideup.com/en-gb/food)
- [Retirement Guidance](https://sideup.com/en-gb/financial-education?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Payroll Giving](https://sideup.com/en-gb/charitable-giving?hsLang=en-gb)
- Lifestyle Benefits
- [Wellness & Fitness](https://sideup.com/en-gb/wellbeing-fitness?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Pet Care](https://sideup.com/en-gb/pet-care?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Food & Meal](https://sideup.com/en-gb/food)
- [Personal Learning & Growth](https://sideup.com/en-gb/work-related-training-tuition?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Commuting Allowance](https://sideup.com/en-gb/commuting?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Leisure & Connection](https://sideup.com/en-gb/work-from-home?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Charitable Giving](https://sideup.com/en-gb/charitable-giving?hsLang=en-gb)
- Platform
- For Employers
- [Manage Benefits](https://sideup.com/en-gb/manage-your-platform?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Integrations](https://sideup.com/integrations?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Trust Centre](https://hi.sideup.com/en-gb/trust)
- For Employees
- [How to spend benefits](https://hi.sideup.com/en-gb/how-to-spend-your-benefits)
- [Stayconomics](https://sideup.com/stayconomics?hsLang=en-gb)
- Learn with Stayconomics
- [Blog](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/tag/blog)
- [Podcast](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/podcast)
- [Newsletter](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/tag/newsletter)
- [Events & Webinars](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/events-webinars)
- [Explore by Topics](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/topics-1)
- Guides & Tools
- Company
- Know more about us
- [Partnerships](https://sideup.com/en-gb/partnership?hsLang=en-gb)
- About us
- Brandbook
- [Contact us](https://sideup.com/en-gb/contact-us?hsLang=en-gb)
- Log in
- [Business](https://admin.sideup.com)
- [Employee](https://app.sideup.com)
- [Book a demo](https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/lana-leles/demo)
Food & Meal
# Imagine a truly energised workforce
The right fuel can transform a team's performance. Give your people a flexible food budget for groceries, meal kits and a proper lunch, so they can feel and work their best.
[Fuel your team](https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/lana-leles/demo)
## Fuel performance
Lunch isn't just a break. It's what keeps your team going through the afternoon, and most people aren't getting one.
36%
### take a lunch break every day
Only around a third of full-time UK employees stop for lunch every day.
*Source: survey of 2,000 UK employees for Gosh!, 2025*
59%
### struggle with the afternoon slump
Skipped or rushed lunches show up later in the day as lost energy and focus.
*Source: survey of 2,000 UK employees for Gosh!, 2025*
37%
### have skipped lunch over stress or cost
Stress and cost keep people from eating properly at work. A food budget takes one of those off the table.
*Source: Just Eat for Business, 2022*
HOW CAN I USE THIS BENEFIT?
## Aisha
Product Manager - Birmingham, UK
With Aisha's dietary requirements, team meals could sometimes feel excluding. With her SideUp card, she could buy specialist groceries that work for her, a small gesture that helps her feel truly seen and valued.
HOW CAN I USE THIS BENEFIT?
## Tom
Remote Sales Lead - Nottingham, UK
Tom's calendar is packed with calls, leaving little time for proper meals. Through SideUp, he could fund a meal kit subscription, helping him stay fuelled, focused and energised.
HOW CAN I USE THIS BENEFIT?
## Emily
Account Manager - London, UK
Office days used to mean a sad desk sandwich for Emily. With her SideUp card, she can pick up a proper lunch near the office and keep her energy up all afternoon.
## An investment in daily performance
A well-fed team is a productive team. A flexible food budget is a simple, direct investment in the daily happiness, focus and engagement of your people.
### Groceries
Supermarkets, farm shops, specialist grocers
### Meal Kits & Delivery
Meal kits, prepared meals, food delivery
### Lunch & Coffee
Local cafés, sandwich shops, coffee
### Custom Bundle
Mix and match what your team needs.
Build Bundle
## Food budget or Canteen Credit? Here's how HMRC sees it
Most food support is taxable. Meals in your own staff canteen can be tax-free, as long as the credit is set up the right way. Here's the difference, and how SideUp handles both.
Wherever they eat
### Food budget
Lifestyle benefit
Taxable
What it covers
Groceries, meal kits, food delivery, and lunch or coffee near the office.
Best for
Remote, hybrid and office teams alike, because it works at home and at work.
SideUp's role
Runs the whole benefit for you.
Your staff canteen
### Canteen Credit
Section 317 ITEPA 2003
Tax-free, when it's set up right
What it covers
Free or subsidised meals, on a reasonable scale, in your staff canteen.
How SideUp keeps it tax-free
**Locked to your canteen.** The credit only works at your canteen's own till, not at any other café or restaurant.
**Open to everyone.** Every employee, or every employee at a location, gets it.
**A separate pot.** Given on top of pay, never through salary sacrifice, and it can't be swapped for another benefit.
**A real staff canteen.** If it also serves the public, meals are taken in a staff-only area.
SideUp's role
Runs Canteen Credit as its own pot, kept apart from your flexible budgets.
A summary, not tax advice. Check your arrangement with a tax adviser.
## See How SideUp Works in 4 Easy Steps
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01\.
### Choose your benefits
Decide which benefits you want to offer and who they apply to.
02\.
### Implement your policy
Set your budget, eligibility rules, and spending limits. Our platform handles the compliance and guardrails automatically.
03\.
### Connect to payroll
Seamlessly integrate with your existing payroll provider. We handle the tax implications and reporting for you.
04\.
### Join the SideUp platform
Invite your team. They get their cards, you get the credit for being an amazing employer. Everyone wins.
## Set it up once. Your team feels it every week.
Most spending happens on the card, so there's almost nothing to chase. Here's how it works, from day one.
1. 1
### Add your employees
Sync your team from your HR system, or add them manually. Either way, it takes minutes.
2. 2
### Set up your programme
Choose your benefits, decide when they're paid out, and pick how your company funds them.
3. 3
### We invite your team
SideUp emails each employee an invitation to the app. Once they've completed onboarding, their card is issued.
4. 4
### Manage it month by month
Track spend and take-up, and keep your compliance information in one place, ready whenever you need it.
Food & Meal
Emily Carter•••• 2046
Weekly grocery shop
Supermarket
£42.50
Lunch near the office
Thursday
£8.95
Food budget this month
£118 of £150
Illustrative example
REAL IMPACT, MEASURED IN RESULTS
## The numbers don't lie
Based on SideUp’s internal research comparing clients **with** vs. **without** flexible stipends. When you give employees choice, the numbers speak for themselves.
+35
eNPS Points
Clients using SideUp consistently score +35 points higher than those relying on standard perks.
Is your culture healthy or at risk?
Get your free Diagnostic →
\+ 23%
Profit
Employees who are happy with their benefits are more productive and can increase a company’s revenue by up to 23%.
10x
ROI
For every $1 spent on SideUp stipends, companies save $10 in retention costs and productivity gains.
The SideUp Marketplace
## Every pound goes further. And stays local.
Our marketplace brings your team closer to the independent cafés, gyms, shops and services in their own neighbourhood. When they spend their SideUp budget there, they unlock exclusive discounts and freebies, so the same benefit buys more.
✓
Exclusive discounts for SideUp members
✓
Freebies and extras from local partners
✓
Your benefits budget, backing local businesses
[List your business](https://sideup.com/en-gb/food#marketplace-apply)[Nominate a local favourite](https://sideup.com/en-gb/food#marketplace-nominate)
A Saturday on the high street
The Corner Café
£8.95
Marketplace discount
−£1.35
Northside Yoga Studio
£12.00
Free mat hire
Freebie
Saved this month
£9.60
Illustrative example
FAQ
## Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about food and meal benefits in the UK.
What can a food benefit be used for?
Groceries, meal kits, prepared meals, food delivery, and lunch or coffee near the office. You choose which categories are eligible.
Is a food benefit taxable?
Yes. Food & Meal is a Lifestyle benefit, so it's treated as a taxable benefit. In return, your team can spend it wherever eating well works for them, at home or at work.
Are there cases where food isn't taxable?
Yes. Meals in a staff canteen or on your premises are exempt when they're on a reasonable scale and available to all your employees, or all employees at a location (section 317 ITEPA 2003).
Can SideUp pay for meals in our staff canteen?
Yes, through Canteen Credit. It's a separate pot, locked to your canteen's own till, available to all your employees and given on top of pay. It can't come from salary sacrifice or be swapped for another benefit, because either would remove the exemption.
Why can't Canteen Credit be part of the flexible budget?
The canteen exemption doesn't apply when meals are provided through salary sacrifice or a flexible benefits choice. Keeping Canteen Credit as its own fixed pot is what keeps it tax-free.
How much should we offer?
You decide. Set a monthly food budget per employee, and a separate Canteen Credit amount if you have a staff canteen.
How does SideUp handle it?
Employees spend with their SideUp card, within the budgets and categories you set. Food budget and Canteen Credit are tracked separately and automatically.
## Boost daily engagement
### Ready to modernise your benefits?
Join hundreds of forward-thinking companies using SideUp to attract and retain top talent. Book a demo to see Food & Meal in action.
[](https://sideup.com?hsLang=en-gb)
Pay your team more. Spend less.
### Tax Free Benefits
- [Homeworking Allowance & Equipment](https://sideup.com/en-gb/work-from-home?hsLang=en-gb)
- [DSE Eyecare](https://sideup.com/en-gb/dse-eyecare?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Work-Related Training & Tuition](https://sideup.com/en-gb/work-related-training-tuition?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Canteen Credit](https://sideup.com/en-gb/food)
- [Canteen Credit](https://sideup.com/food?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Bike Share Pass](https://sideup.com/en-gb/commuting?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Retirement Guidance](https://sideup.com/en-gb/financial-education?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Nursery Partnership](https://sideup.com/en-gb/child-care?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Payroll Giving](https://sideup.com/en-gb/charitable-giving?hsLang=en-gb)
### Lifestyle
- [Child Care](https://sideup.com/en-gb/child-care?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Pet Care](https://sideup.com/en-gb/pet-care?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Wellbeing & Fitness](https://sideup.com/en-gb/wellbeing-fitness?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Food & Meal](https://sideup.com/en-gb/food)
- [Financial Education](https://sideup.com/en-gb/financial-education?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Commuting Allowance](https://sideup.com/en-gb/commuting?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Leisure & Connection](https://sideup.com/en-gb/commuting?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Charitable Giving](https://sideup.com/en-gb/charitable-giving?hsLang=en-gb)
### Plataform
- [Manage your Platform](https://sideup.com/en-gb/how-to-spend-your-benefits?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Integrations](https://sideup.com/en-gb/integrations?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Trust](https://sideup.com/en-gb/trust3?hsLang=en-gb)
- [How to spend benefits](https://sideup.com/en-gb/how-to-spend-your-benefits?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Business Platform](https://sideup.com/en-gb/admin.sideup.com?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Employee Portal](https://sideup.com/en-gb/customer.sideup.com?hsLang=en-gb)
### Company
- [About us](https://sideup.com/en-gb/?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Partnerships](https://sideup.com/en-gb/partnership?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Brandbook](https://sideup.com/en-gb/?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Terms & Conditions](https://sideup.com/en-gb/terms-conditions?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Privacy Policy](https://sideup.com/en-gb/privacy-policy?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Contact us](https://sideup.com/en-gb/contact-us?hsLang=en-gb)
SideUp is not a bank. SideUp Visa® cards are issued by Stripe Payments UK Limited, an electronic money institution authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (firm reference number 900461) for the issuing of electronic money and the provision of payment services. Cards are issued under the Visa card scheme pursuant to a licence from Visa Europe Limited. SideUp Limited. Registered in England & Wales, Company No. 15200782. Registered office: 35 Charles Square, London, England, N1 6HT. Information on this website is a general summary, not tax advice.
© 2026 SideUp. All rights reserved.
Book a demo
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