Procurement Market Intelligence Report
Cafeteria Management Services
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Cafeteria Management Services Global Overview
Definition
Summary
This report is intended to assist buyers of on-site cafeteria management services. Suppliers manage and operate cafeteria facilities at commercial, governmental, industrial, and institutional locations, such as government offices, airports, schools, and hospitals. Suppliers provide staff that plan menus, order food, and prepare and serve meals. Cafeteria services can be a source of revenue when customers pay for meals or meal plans. Key buyers include universities, schools, government agencies, and businesses. Key suppliers include facilities management service providers and food service providers.
This Report Includes:
- Cafeteria Services
- Dining Services
Not in this Report:
- Catering Services
- Food Safety Consulting Services
Global Cafeteria Management Services Procurement Trends
Discover the top international trends affecting procurement in the global Cafeteria Management Services market.
Neutral
Crude oil prices dip, but natural gas and fuel prices remain volatile in 2025
- Oil prices have been falling with the introduction of higher tariffs and the predicted decline in global demand. The OPEC+ group of countries also announced they would be unwinding production cuts and increasing their collective output target for May by 411,000 barrels per day.
- Trade wars, ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, and general unrest in the Middle East are causing uncertainty surrounding oil prices, which has led to volatility in prices. In the third week of May 2025, crude oil prices hit $63.67 per barrel, but volatility remains as geopolitical concerns remain.
- Natural gas prices rallied early in 2025 with colder-than-usual temperatures in the United States and high demand, topping out at $4.68/MMBtu in March. Prices have since fallen with the onset of trade wars and weakening demand projections to $3.64/MMBtu in the third week of May 2025.
- The national average of gasoline prices has been rising slightly due to refinery maintenance/outages and blending issues, hitting a national average of $3.15 per gallon in the third week of May 2025. However, gasoline futures have been volatile, falling due to fears of oversupply and deepening concerns about weakening demand with tariffs, but rising after trade deals.
Global Cafeteria Management Services Market - Suppliers by Region
| Country/Region | Number of Suppliers |
|---|---|
| #1Europe | 56,420 |
| #2Oceania & Southeast Asia | 32,400 |
| #3India | 14,985 |
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Geography Drilldown - US, Canada & Europe
Average Cost of Cafeteria Management Services
United States
2025 Market Pricing$2.37 to $X.XX
per mealCanada
Europe
Average Price
Prices in the Cafeteria Management Services market range from $2.37 to $X.XX, depending on Type of Services, Scope of Operations, Supplier Expertise & Reputation, Food Quality and Location. For example, lower prices are associated with Narrow scope of services (only consulting services), whereas higher prices are associated with Wide scope of services (menu development, food sourcing, serving meals).
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Between our Europe and Canada collections, we provide price data for 350 markets so you can instantly compare prices across borders. Or, use our custom research services for intel on prices in any region across the globe.
Cafeteria Management Services Category Price Trends
Pricing trends are indicated by the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during a set period of time. For the Cafeteria Management Services market, prices in the US have grown 6.2% from 2022 to 2025. and +5.6% in Europe.
United States (2022-2025)
6.2%
Compound Annual Growth RateCanada (2021-2024)
6.1%
Compound Annual Growth RateEurope (2022-2025)
5.6%
Compound Annual Growth RateWondering where prices are heading?
Price trend forecasts are available to subscribers, along with price driver projections and forward-looking cost structure data.
Cost Analysis - Total Cost of Ownership for Cafeteria Management Services
Total cost of ownership is Low in the Cafeteria Management Services market. The average cost of ownership differs depending on the contract but generally includes costs negotiated before the contract begins, costs billed during the contract period and unforeseen costs.
Billed During
Repairs
Upgrades
Hardware
Buyer Power in Procurement Negotiations
In 2025, buyer power amounts to -2.5 in the United States. Buyer power is most positively impacted by Recent Price Volatility. It is most negatively impacted by Price Driver Volatility. Subscribers can access details on eight other factors that impact buyer power. Learn more
United States
Canada
Europe
Buyer power forecasts: your glimpse into the future
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- Methodology and weightings for Buyer Power Score Components
Supply Chain Risk
The average level of supply chain risk is assessed as Medium, which has a negative impact on buyer power. The level of supply chain risk is affected by industry volatility, barriers to entry, competition, import penetration, regulation and industry financial risk. Buyers in this market can mitigate procurement and supply chain management risks by monitoring risk levels for individual first and second tier suppliers:
1st
Tier Suppliers
- Beef & Pork Wholesalers
- Egg & Poultry Wholesalers
- Fruit & Vegetable Wholesalers
- Fish & Seafood Wholesalers
2nd
Tier Suppliers
- Meat, Beef & Poultry Processors
- Chicken & Turkey Meat Producers
- Chicken Egg Producers
- Vegetable Farmers
- Fruit & Nut Farmers
- Fishers
Biggest Cafeteria Management Services Suppliers in the US by Revenue
The largest Cafeteria Management Services vendors by revenue in the US are Thompson Hospitality Corporation, Guest Services, Inc. and Healthcare Services Group, Inc. Subscribers can sort and filter by market share concentration, profit level and other factors. Learn more
| Supplier | Operational Size | Headquarters | Number of Employees | Market Share (%) | Market Share Performance (3yr trend) | Total Revenue ($ million) | Profit Level (%) | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodexo SA | Global | Issy-les-Moulineaux, FR | >10,001 | 15-20 | ||||
| Aramark Corp | Global | PHILADELPHIA | >10,000 | 20-25 | ||||
| Compass Group Plc | Global | Chertsey, UK | >10,001 | 25+ | ||||
| Delaware North Companies, Incorporated | International | Buffalo, NY | >10,000 | 5-10 | ||||
| ISS A | Global | Søborg , TX | >10,001 | < 5 | ||||
| Elior Group | Global | Paris, FR | >10,001 | < 5 | ||||
| Healthcare Services Group, Inc | International | BENSALEM | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Thompson Hospitality Corporation | National | Reston, VA | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Guest Services, Inc. | National | Fairfax, VA | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
Looking for a list of suppliers by country?
Subscribers can access vendor information on Canadian and European suppliers, too. We also offer custom research services to help with vendor sourcing anywhere in the world.
Profit Analysis
The average profit margin across vendors in the Cafeteria Management Services market is 5.4% and steady. Profit levels shift depending on suppliers' spend on wages, purchases and overhead. The highest cost component for vendors is Overhead. The cost trend for this component is rising, when considering movement between 2024 and 2025. To understand cost forecasts for 2026 and uncover the implications on profit, start your subscription. Learn more
Vendor & Supply Chain Analysis
High market share concentration limits buyer power because it reduces competition in the market, leaving buyers that are looking to source a top supplier with minimal leverage.
Moderate vendor financial risk hurts buyers because supplier bankruptcy could disrupt service and result in financial losses.
Moderate supply chain risk raises the probability of services being disrupted by shortages of inputs or fluctuations in input prices.
Although the United States is a net importer of stainless steel kitchenware, this does not have an impact on cafeteria management services as kitchenware is purchased infrequently.
Supplier Information
Sodexo SA
Sodexo SA is a public company operating globally in the administration, business support and waste management services, accommodation and food services and other services (except public administration) sectors. The company's offerings include hospital linen supply & management services, facility maintenance... Subscribe to learn more
Aramark Corp
Aramark is a global provider of food and facilities services to education, healthcare, business & industry, and sports, leisure & corrections markets. It offers food and beverage services, including hiring, training, and supervising food service personnel; ordering, receiving, preparing, and serving food Subscribe to learn more
Compass Group Plc
Compass Group Plc is a public company operating globally in the administration, business support and waste management services, accommodation and food services and other services (except public administration) sectors. The company's offerings include hospital linen supply & management services, vending machine... Subscribe to learn more
Delaware North Companies, Incorporated
Delaware North Companies, Incorporated is a private company operating internationally in the accommodation and food services sector. The company's offerings include catering services and cafeteria management services. Founded in 1915, the company is currently headquartered in Buffalo, New York, United States... Subscribe to learn more
AVI Foodsystems Inc.
AVI Foodsystems Inc. is a private company operating nationally in the accommodation and food services sector. The company's offerings include vending machine rental, catering services, cafeteria management services and hot beverage vending machine rental. Founded in 1960, the company is currently headquartered... Subscribe to learn more
Guest Services, Inc.
Guest Services, Inc. is a private company operating nationally in the accommodation and food services sector. The company's offerings include cafeteria management services. Founded in 1917, the company is currently headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America with an estimated 5500 employees.... Subscribe to learn more
Thompson Hospitality Corporation
Thompson Hospitality Corporation is a private company operating nationally in the accommodation and food services sector. The company's offerings include cafeteria management services. Founded in 1992, the company is currently headquartered in Reston, Virginia, United States of America with an estimated 5500... Subscribe to learn more
Healthcare Services Group, Inc
Healthcare Services Group, Inc. is a management, administrative, and operation services provider to the healthcare industry. It offers housekeeping services, dietary services, and administrative services, including centralized financial management and support, legal services, and human resources management.... Subscribe to learn more
Elior Group
Elior Group is a public company operating globally in the accommodation and food services sector. The company's offerings include catering services and cafeteria management services. Founded in 1991, the company is currently headquartered in Paris, France with an estimated employee count of over 10,000. Subscribe to learn more
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Procurement Management KPIs for the Cafeteria Management Services Market
Managing vendor performance throughout the contract period is easier when tracking specific key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, buyers should monitor Customer Complaints and Customer Satisfaction (CSAT). Buyers may experience better performance throughout their contracts if they establish service level agreements (SLAs) based on Scope of Services and other factors.
| KPI | Level of Importance (1-5) | Measurements | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Complaints | Total number of complaints Time period | Employees and customers may be eating at the cafeteria, so a high number of complaints could hurt overall employee and customer satisfaction and cause them to leave. Buyers should issue a warning to the supplier if the number of customer complaints exceeds a certain limit during a quarter. | |
| Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) | Number of positive reviews Total number of reviews | Customer satisfaction matters because the buyer’s employees and customers may use the cafeteria, so poor service could harm the reputation of the buyer’s organization. Vendors that serve delicious meals and provide quality service will earn a high customer satisfaction rating. | |
Questions to Ask During Procurement Negotiations
How can I gain leverage during negotiations?
Quality Control
How do you develop new recipes that keep up with evolving food trends?
How does your menu address varying dietary needs and concerns, including vegetarian, low-fat and ketogenic diets, food allergies, glucose intolerance and gluten sensitivity?
Workforce
How experienced is the onsite manager who would oversee cafeteria operations?
How many hours of training does each kitchen staff member receive each year?
Vendor Financial Risk
What types of contracts do most of your existing clients have (e.g. management fee, profit-and-loss)?
How do you typically split profit from cafeteria sales with clients?
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Cafeteria Management Services RFP Guidelines
What should my RFP include?
Organizational Overview
Buyers should outline details of their organization and background (e.g., number of employees or customers, locations, and industries they operate in).
Buyers should provide detailed information about the scope and purpose of this project.
Statement Of Need
Buyers should submit detailed information about their workforce demographics, culinary and dietary requirements.
Buyers should specify the hours of dining operation and cafeteria uses outside regular dining hours.
Project Budget
If one exists, buyers should specify their budget for cafeteria management services and related products and services.
Buyers should provide information about any budgetary constraints.
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