Procurement Market Intelligence Report
Catering Services
Sourcing Guide & Market Intelligence
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Catering Services Global Overview
Definition
Summary
Caterers provide food services and catering staff for single events or under contracts. Service packages include meal preparation, distribution, and cleanup services. Key buyers in this market include businesses, consumers, and government agencies, whereas suppliers are typically caterers and food service management companies.
This Report Includes:
- Meal Preparation
- Distribution
- Cleanup Services
Not in this Report:
- Cafeteria Management Services
- Food Safety Consulting Services
Global Catering Services Procurement Trends
Discover the top international trends affecting procurement in the global Catering Services market.
Neutral
Inflation climbs above 3.0% for the first time in seven months
- In January, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) 12-month inflation rate, the most commonly used measure of inflation, rose by 0.1% to 3.0%, the highest it has been since June 2024.
- This uptick in inflation follows cuts to interest rates which may have added to consumer demand, fueling higher consumer prices.
- Additionally, the threat of impending tariff hikes has driven preemptive stockpiling by importers, adding to demand and price growth across a range of industries in the United States.
- While inflation is still low relative to previous years, sustained recent increases in inflation and the potential effects of tariffs, such as the recently implemented 10.0% on all Chinese goods, mean prices are still rising at a faster-than-normal pace.
Global Catering Services Market - Suppliers by Region
| Country/Region | Number of Suppliers |
|---|---|
| #1 Europe | 64,270 |
| #2 Oceania & Southeast Asia | 36,910 |
| #3 India | 17,070 |
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2
Geography Drilldown - US, Canada & Europe
Average Cost of Catering Services
United States
2026 Market Pricing$15.00 to $XXX.XX
per personCanada
Europe
Average Price
Prices in the Catering Services market range from $15.00 to $XXX.XX, depending on Meal Type, Food Quality, Number of Guests, Service Level and Location. For example, lower prices are associated with Appetizers ($10 to $34.76 per person), whereas higher prices are associated with Multicourse meal ($34.76 to $350 per person).
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Catering Services Category Price Trends
Pricing trends are indicated by the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during a set period of time. For the Catering Services market, prices in the US have grown 3.6% from 2022 to 2025. and +0.5% in Europe.
United States (2022-2025)
Canada (2018-2021)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Europe (2022-2025)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
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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 Catering Services
Total cost of ownership is Medium in the Catering 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. For example, unforeseen costs in the form of Spoilage may raise the total cost of ownership unexpectedly.
Negotiated Before
Set Up Fees
Rentals
Billed During
Disposal
Labor
Unforeseen
Spoilage
Cancellations
Buyer Power in Procurement Negotiations
In 2026, buyer power amounts to -2.0 in the United States. Buyer power is most positively impacted by Forecast Price Trend. It is most negatively impacted by Market Share Concentration. 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
Develop strategies for the upcoming year and identify unforeseen opportunities for buying now
- Actionable "Buy Now" and "Buy Later" insights
- Near-real-time updates to current and forecast Buyer Power Scores
- Methodology and weightings for Buyer Power Score Components
Supply Chain Risk
The average level of supply chain risk is assessed as High, 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 Wholesaling
- Egg & Poultry Wholesaling
- Fruit & Vegetable Wholesaling
- Fish & Seafood Wholesaling
- Commercial Cooking Equipment Manufacturing
2nd
Tier Suppliers
- Meat, Beef & Poultry Processing
- Chicken & Turkey Meat Production
- Vegetable Farming
- Fish & Seafood Aquaculture
Biggest Catering Services Suppliers in the US by Revenue
The largest Catering Services vendors by revenue in the US are American Food & Vending Corporation, Gourmet Services Inc. and Legends Hospitality, Llc. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comcast Corporation | Global | PHILADELPHIA, PA | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| ISS A | Global | Søborg , TX | >10,001 | < 5 | ||||
| Compass Group Plc | Global | Chertsey, UK | >10,001 | < 5 | ||||
| Sodexo SA | Global | Issy-les-Moulineaux, FR | >10,001 | < 5 | ||||
| Aramark Corp | Global | PHILADELPHIA | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Elior Group | Global | Paris, FR | >10,001 | < 5 | ||||
| Delaware North Companies, Incorporated | International | Buffalo, NY | >10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| American Food & Vending Corporation | National | Syracuse, NY | 1,001-10,000 | < 5 | ||||
| Gourmet Services Inc. | National | Atlanta, GA | 501-1,000 | < 5 | ||||
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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 Catering Services market is 6.9% and steady. Profit levels shift depending on suppliers' spend on wages, purchases and overhead. The highest cost component for vendors is Purchases. The cost trend for this component is stagnating, when considering movement between 2025 and 2026. To understand cost forecasts for 2027 and uncover the implications on profit, start your subscription. Learn more
Vendor & Supply Chain Analysis
A decline in dining trends has severely impacted caterers. As a result, small suppliers in the market face long-term financial disruptions and bankruptcies if poor business activity persists, thereby elevating vendor financial risk.
Caterers must be located near their clients to travel to the events they service, so there is ample opportunity for new caterers to enter the market throughout the country. The wide geographic spread of suppliers, in turn, supports low market concentration by empowering small providers to more easily establish their market presence and compete with existing firms.
Suppliers that depend on Chinese suppliers for certain foods or cooking and warming equipment may experience a supply shortage and higher prices, thus elevating supply chain risk. As a result, added procurement costs may be passed down the supply chain in the form of higher prices.
The United States functions as a net importer of cooking equipment, indicating a higher import volume compared to its exports. American buyers interested in procuring such equipment from overseas should evaluate aspects such as production capabilities, quality standards, delivery timelines, safety certifications, and compliance with US standards when considering international manufacturers.
Supplier Information
American Food & Vending Corporation
American Food & Vending Corporation is a private company operating nationally in the accommodation & food services sector. The company's offerings include catering services. Founded in 1990, the company is currently headquartered in Liverpool, New York, United States of America with an estimated 5500 employees.... 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
AVI Foodsystems Inc.
AVI Foodsystems Inc. is a private company operating nationally in the accommodation & 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
Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation is a public company operating globally in the information and accommodation and food services sectors. The company's offerings include air cards, pbx phone systems, online advertising, internet services, network voice services. Founded in 1963, the company is currently headquartered in... 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 & 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 & 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
Elior Group
Elior Group is a public company operating globally in the accommodation & 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
Gourmet Services Inc.
Gourmet Services Inc. is a private company operating nationally in the accommodation & food services sector. The company's offerings include catering services. Founded in 1975, the company is currently headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America with an estimated 900 employees. Subscribe to learn more
ISS A
ISS is a public company operating globally in the administration, business support and waste management services and accommodation & food services sectors. The company's offerings include facility maintenance & repair services, facilities management services, catering services and cafeteria management services.... Subscribe to learn more
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Procurement Management KPIs for the Catering Services Market
Managing vendor performance throughout the contract period is easier when tracking specific key performance indicators (KPIs). For example, buyers should monitor Customer Retention Rate and Employee Absence Rate. Buyers may experience better performance throughout their contracts if they establish service level agreements (SLAs) based on Pricing and other factors.
| KPI | Level of Importance (1-5) | Measurements | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Retention Rate |
|
Longest client tenure Customers at the beginning of the fiscal year to number of customers at the end of the fiscal year |
A high customer retention rate indicates a supplier with a high level of service. Poor retention should alert buyers to seek out client references to further evaluate a supplier's quality or qualifications. |
| Employee Absence Rate |
|
Ratio of employees available on-site to employees scheduled to work Employee absenteeism at events |
High employee absenteeism may hurt the supplier's ability to prepare meals and provide sufficient staff for time wait services. Suppliers with low absenteeism exhibit a high level of professionalism. |
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Questions to Ask During Procurement Negotiations
How can I gain leverage during negotiations?
Quality Control
How flexible are your menu options? Can dishes be customized or ingredients substituted?
How does your menu address varying dietary needs and concerns, including allergies as well as vegetarian, low-fat and gluten-free options?
Workforce
Will the main contact be the one that oversees catering services?
Do you have your own staff, or will staff need to be subcontracted?
Experience and Expertise
Have you catered events of a similar size or larger?
With what types of clients do you typically work?
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Catering Services RFP Guidelines
What should my RFP include?
Organizational Overview
Buyers should describe their organization, location(s) and why they require catering services.
Buyers should indicate the scope of the contract, including whether services are to be rendered once or on an ongoing basis.
Statement Of Need
Buyers should include a detailed description of the event(s) for which catering is needed.
Buyers should indicate the event date(s) and location(s).
Project Budget
Buyers should specify their catering budget.
Buyers should outline payment schedules.
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We display average pricing information, trends and market data.
Our Reports include:
- Opportunity assessment
- Market dynamics
- Recent developments
- Positive and warning trends
- Buyer power levers
- Price environment and market pricing
- Geographic wage rates
- Global market updates
- Total cost of ownership
- Cost structure benchmarks and analysis
- Supply chain and vendors
- Global supplier breakdown
- Market share concentration
- Regulation and business requirements
- Vendor management and KPIs
- Sourcing strategy guidance
