Food Service Contractors Industry Profile

Companies in this industry contract to provide food services at commercial, institutional, and governmental locations. Major companies include Aramark and Delaware North (both based in the US), as well as Autogrill (Italy), Compass Group and SSP Group (both based in the UK), and Elior Group and Sodexo (both based in France).

The global market for catering services and food contractors is about $275.9 billion in 2022 and is forecast to reach about $378.39 billion in 2026 at a 8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), according to Globe Newswire.

The US food service contracting industry includes about 30,000 establishments (single-location companies and units of multi-location companies) with combined annual revenue of about $45 billion.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by employment trends and consumer tastes. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations and food quality. Large companies have advantages in economies of scale in food and equipment purchasing, off-site food preparation, and distribution. Small companies can compete effectively by specializing in unique food products or local markets. The US industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for about 90% of revenue.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Companies in this industry primarily get their revenues from meals, snacks and beverages for immediate consumption, which account for more than 95%. Other products include alcoholic beverages for immediate consumption (less than 5%) and meals, snacks, and beverages prepared for immediate consumption. Food includes pizza, Mexican and Asian cuisine, sandwiches, ...