Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and his wife, Jools, have received £2.5 million in dividends for the second consecutive year, despite a decrease in pre-tax profits for their company, Jamie Oliver Holdings (JOH). Pre-tax profits fell by £1 million to £2.4 million last year, even as sales experienced a 6% rise, reaching £28.6 million. This increase in sales was partly attributed to the opening of a new restaurant in November 2023, which marked Oliver’s first directly managed restaurant since the closure of 22 Jamie’s Italian outlets in 2019.
JOH encompasses Oliver’s diverse media ventures, including television production, book publishing, endorsements, his cookery school, and franchise income from restaurants around the world that bear his name. The group is also known for its charitable work through the Ministry of Food foundation, which is currently teaching cooking in 1,150 secondary schools in the UK.
After over two years of leadership by CEO Kevin Styles, the company is now managed by its operating board due to a vacancy in the chief executive position. The dividends drawn by Oliver and his wife are part of their broader business interests, which include a licensing venture that lacks publicly available financial details.
Income from directly operated restaurants rose significantly, increasing to £3.6 million in 2024 from £335,983 the previous year. Franchise income from international locations, including Jamie’s Italian and Jamie’s Deli, increased to £3.8 million from £3.6 million. This revenue growth occurred amidst ongoing challenges in the hospitality sector, influenced by higher costs and changing consumer behaviors related to dining out.
Royalties and income from endorsements and TV production fell by 10% to £19.8 million, attributed largely to the conclusion of a major deal with Tesco. A spokesperson for the group announced plans to open 12 new restaurants internationally this year, including locations in Oman and Greece. Additionally, the opening of a cookery school within John Lewis’s Oxford Street store has expanded their educational offerings, with further schools potentially planned for the future.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/oct/03/jamie-oliver-and-his-wife-pay-themselves-25m-as-pre-tax-profits-slump