Factual and statistical information

Worldwide catering market revenue is expected to reach US$265 billion within 4 years, with an estimated compound annual growth rate of 5 percent according to Research and Markets. Significantly, the market spans major sectors in various communities, including schools, senior facilities, sports centers, and even hospitals. These institutions outsource their food service needs so they can lower their expenses and focus their workforce on more important matters.

A recent study by Technomic shows that the US restaurant industry generated about $537 billion in total sales last 2017 with a continuous growth rate due to easy and fast online ordering system. There are more than 10,000 catering companies in the United States, employing about 110,000 people in total. Most of these companies are small and locally controlled and do not account for a large part of the market share. The demand for their services is higher in densely populated areas.

The largest catering market in Asia and the second largest in the world, China achieved an estimated revenue of US$616 billion as reported by the China Cuisine Association. At the moment, it has around 5 million companies active in the restaurant sector. This has been attributed to the implementation of an online-to-offline marketing strategy where customers are encouraged to order food by going to the caterer’s physical store rather than online.

Imagine how many people are choosing the convenient and practical way to serve food to their guests to celebrate life milestones. Statistics show that catering services are in demand for the following occasions: weddings, engagements, birthdays, corporate events, graduations, Christmas parties and even funerals. There is also a growing need for food services at trade shows and conferences around the world.

Reports show that the money spent on food service depends mainly on how much corporate clients or individual consumers can spend for certain occasions. This is why caterers often offer various packages and sometimes even create meals to suit the most limited budget.

Being able to cater to large groups opens up a number of catering opportunities for them, so it is rare for them to turn down any offer, deal or invitation. However, while the demand still exists, customers are less likely to request catering services during uncertain economic times.

According to Koncept Analytics market research, the top 3 factors driving the growing demand for contract and freelance catering services are people’s need for personalized food ordering, the rise of the middle class, and the continued use of the digital technology.

The 2018 analysis of the global contract catering market by Orbis Research

per segment

• Business and Industry (B&I)
• Education
• Health care
• Facilities for the elderly
• Governmental agencies
• Sports and Entertainment

By region

• North America
• Europe
• Pacific Asia
• Latin America
• Africa
• ROR (Rest of Regions)

For country

• USA
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• France
• Germany
• Others (Spain, India, China, Japan, Australia and Brazil

So what kind of food catering service would you prefer to set up in your own local community?

• contract catering
• self operated