Catering Services Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity and Forecast, By Services Type (Contractual, Non-Contractual), By End User (Healthcare, Corporates, Education, Hospitality, Industrial, In-Flight, Others), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 298.51 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.39%
Fastest Growing Segment	Corporates
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 432.88 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Catering Services Market will grow from USD 298.51 Billion in 2025 to USD 432.88 Billion by 2031 at a 6.39% CAGR. Catering services encompass the provision of food and beverage solutions for events, institutions, and transport operations, functioning either through on-premise management or off-site delivery. The sector’s expansion is fundamentally driven by the global resurgence of travel and tourism, alongside increased corporate spending on hospitality and employee welfare programs. These economic factors, coupled with the rapid urbanization that necessitates outsourced food management for hospitals and universities, provide a strong structural foundation for market growth independent of transient consumer preferences.

Despite this positive trajectory, the industry faces a significant impediment regarding rising operational expenses which severely threaten profit margins. Persistent inflation in supply chain procurement and workforce compensation complicates financial sustainability for many providers. According to the National Restaurant Association, in 2024, 98% of operators identified higher labor costs as a significant issue affecting their business. This financial strain limits capital investment and may stall market expansion as companies struggle to maintain service quality without rendering prices uncompetitive.

Key Market Drivers

The Resurgence of Corporate Events and Business Gatherings is a primary catalyst propelling the market, as organizations aggressively reinstate in-person operations. As return-to-office mandates stabilize, enterprises are increasingly utilizing premium food solutions to incentivize attendance and foster employee engagement. This renewal extends beyond daily meals to large-scale conferences and client meetings, creating a sustained revenue stream for providers who can deliver high-quality, flexible dining options. Reflecting this positive sentiment, according to ezCater, May 2024, in the 'Feeding the Workplace' report, 53% of corporate food buyers surveyed plan to increase their spending on catered meals in 2024. This segment's vitality is further underscored by the performance of leading conglomerates; according to Sodexo, October 2024, in its 'Full Year Fiscal 2024 Results', the company achieved a food services organic growth of 9.3%, highlighting the robust demand for outsourced management across institutional and business clients globally.

Simultaneously, the Expansion of In-Flight and Travel-Related Catering Services is playing a critical role in the industry's upward trajectory. The rapid restoration of global flight schedules and passenger volumes has necessitated an immediate ramp-up in meal production capacities and logistical support. Airlines are continuously upgrading onboard dining to differentiate their service in a competitive landscape, directly benefiting catering partners who handle these complex operations. This boom is evident in recent financial disclosures; according to dnata, May 2024, in the '2023-24 Annual Report', revenue from its catering and retail business division increased by 35% year-over-year to reach US$ 1.8 billion. Such expansion confirms that the travel sector remains a dominant engine for the global catering market, effectively countering cost pressures through sheer volume recovery.

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Key Market Challenges

Rising operational expenses significantly impede the progress of the Global Catering Services Market, primarily due to persistent inflation in supply chain procurement and escalating workforce compensation. As catering providers grapple with these surging input costs, their profit margins contract, forcing a shift in strategic focus from market expansion to immediate financial survival. This volatile cost environment compels companies to absorb expenses or increase menu prices, both of which erode competitive positioning and dampen consumer demand.

Consequently, the capital necessary for essential growth activities—such as upgrading infrastructure, adopting new technologies, or entering new geographic territories—is severely restricted. The direct correlation between soaring costs and halted development is evident in recent industry data. According to UKHospitality, in 2025, 60% of hospitality businesses reported they would cancel planned investment projects due to the unsustainable burden of increased employment costs and operational overheads. This reduction in capital expenditure limits the industry's capacity to innovate and scale, effectively stalling long-term market growth despite favorable demand drivers.

Key Market Trends

The adoption of zero-waste and circular supply chain models is fundamentally reshaping catering operations by prioritizing resource efficiency and environmental stewardship. Providers are increasingly integrating closed-loop systems that minimize refuse through precise portioning, upcycling ingredients, and converting organic byproducts into compost or bio-energy. This strategic pivot not only addresses client demands for rigorous Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance but also serves as a critical mechanism to mitigate volatile procurement costs by maximizing raw material utility. According to Elior North America, April 2025, in the '2024 Doing Good Social & Environmental Responsibility (SER) Report', locations participating in the company's specialized waste reduction programs achieved a 64% reduction in food waste from their 2022 baseline, demonstrating the operational viability of these sustainable frameworks.

Simultaneously, the expansion of plant-forward and "third-culture" fusion cuisines represents a structural shift in menu engineering designed to align with evolving consumer health priorities and climate goals. Catering firms are moving meat to the periphery of the plate, utilizing it as a flavor enhancer rather than a centerpiece, while blending culinary traditions to create distinctive, vegetable-centric dining experiences. This transition allows operators to lower Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions significantly while catering to the dietary values of a younger, eco-conscious workforce. Highlighting this aggressive menu transformation, according to ISS Guckenheimer, April 2025, in the 'Guckenheimer Tops National Food Service Industry Protein Sustainability Scorecard' press release, the company committed to ensuring that 55% of meals offered in its corporate dining programs would be plant-based in 2025 to meet client sustainability targets.

Segmental Insights

The corporate segment is currently positioned as the fastest-growing category within the global catering services market due to a strategic emphasis on employee welfare and operational optimization. Organizations are increasingly adopting professional catering solutions to facilitate return-to-office mandates and improve staff retention through high-quality dining perks. This expansion is further supported by the widespread trend of outsourcing food management to ensure adherence to rigorous hygiene standards maintained by authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration. Consequently, the demand for consistent and nutritious workplace meal programs continues to accelerate global market development.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the global catering services market due to the expansion of the corporate sector and high disposable household income. The region experiences strong demand for contract catering within business environments, driven by the need for employee dining solutions and corporate event management. Furthermore, stringent food safety regulations enforced by the Food and Drug Administration ensure high service standards, thereby increasing consumer reliance on professional catering providers. The presence of major market players with extensive distribution networks also stabilizes the industry, making catering services readily accessible across the region.

Recent Developments

• In August 2024, Aramark UK announced a major long-term partnership with Everton Football Club, becoming the "Official Culinary Experience Partner" for the club's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. This collaboration was designed to establish a digital-first dining environment, utilizing advanced technology to minimize wait times and enhance service speed for up to 52,888 spectators per match. The agreement encompassed a comprehensive food and beverage strategy, including a 365-day hospitality offering and the creation of a social value fund to support the local community. The initiative marked the company's first step into a new era of stadium catering, focusing on flexible, trend-driven food concepts.
• In August 2024, Elior Group secured a new catering contract with the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, a world-class research institute. This collaboration tasked the company with providing a wide range of food services, including breakfast, lunch, and all-day grab-and-go options for over 600 staff members. Additionally, the agreement covered hospitality services for meeting rooms and event catering for gatherings of up to 200 people. The selection process highlighted the provider's ability to deliver high food standards and sustainability practices that aligned with the institute's specific requirements, further demonstrating the company's adaptive approach in the scientific and business sectors.
• In April 2024, dnata secured a significant multi-year catering contract with Etihad Airways to serve as the exclusive inflight catering supplier at Boston Logan International Airport. Following the airline's launch of flights to the United States city, the service provider began producing and uplifting over 125,000 meals annually for the carrier's weekly operations to Abu Dhabi. This collaboration involved the deployment of highly trained culinary teams to deliver premium dining experiences that align with the airline's high standards. The agreement further expanded dnata’s footprint in the North American market, where it already serviced numerous airline customers across multiple airport locations.
• In February 2024, Sodexo reinforced its long-standing global collaboration with AstraZeneca by extending their partnership for an additional five-year term. Under this renewed agreement, the company continued to provide comprehensive food and facilities management services across key regions, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway. The contract was structured as a Vested agreement, emphasizing a shared commitment to innovation, safety, and sustainability within the workplace. This strategic evolution aimed to enhance the daily experience for the client's workforce while driving value through aligned goals in quality, compliance, and environmental responsibility, thereby solidifying the provider's presence in the corporate services sector.

Key Market Players

• Compass Group
• Sodexo
• Aramark
• AVI Foodsystems
• CaterNinja
• Vitality Bowls
• The Happy Catering Company
• The Catering Company
• San Francisco Catering Company
• Robert’s Catering Service

By Services Type	By End User	By Region
Contractual Non-Contractual	Healthcare Corporates Education Hospitality Industrial In-Flight Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Catering Services Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Catering Services Market, By Services Type:

• Contractual
• Non-Contractual

• Catering Services Market, By End User:

• Healthcare
• Corporates
• Education
• Hospitality
• Industrial
• In-Flight
• Others

• Catering Services Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE