Contract catering is an increasingly global activity – the leading practitioners have operations around the world and have grown to such a size that they offer a global challenge to the largest high street brands.

The key market sector is Business and Industry (B&I). It currently accounts for 43% of all meals served and 52% of their food purchases. This sector is the traditional heartland but is increasingly of declining importance. In 1990, B&I accounted for 54% of all contracted meals; but by 2002 this share had fallen to the current 43%.

Importance of B&I

The reason for this fall has not been a reduction in the number of meals, rather the increased income from other sectors. Chief amongst these has been education, which now accounts for 27% of meals, and health care at 17%.

For the food supplier, the contract catering market is a major market - valued at £1.1 billion or 13% of total foodservice food spend.

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