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Food-Service Contractors in the UK Industry Data and Analysis
In the five years through 2025-26, the industry is expected to experience a surge in revenue at a compound annual rate of 12.8%, reaching £8.8 billion. This growth is primarily propelled by robust demand, from the return to office mandates and rising attendance at leisure activities, where caterers deliver on large contracts. Contract caterers have adapted to evolving consumer preferences, embracing trends of health and eco-awareness, successfully tapping into this growing market demand by offering healthier, low-carbon menu options. The rise of niche dietary requirements has also given a foothold to smaller caterers who can deliver an offering that finds underserved clients in a crowded market, while established caterers have expanded menu offerings to maintain market share. The Contract Catering Tracked from CGA by NIQ, Bidfood and UKHospitality for Q3 2025 reveals that Britain’s leading contract catering companies have enjoyed consistent growth in sales since mid-2021, with resilient demand from businesses as people return to offices, contract renegotiations and acquisition of new clients.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released January 2026.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom operates under the SIC industry code I56.290. Food-service contractors prepare food for clients on a contract basis. Contracts cover the service period, prices and a broad menu selection. The industry comprises operations like food-service contracting, running food concessions at sports and similar facilities and operating canteens or cafeterias, with all food being prepared at a central location. Related terms covered in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom include steamplicity, canteen and outsourcing.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom include On-premises food services, Meals for takeaway consumption and Beverages.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom include Compass Contract Services (UK) Ltd, CD&R and WSH JVco (UK) Ltd and Sodexo Ltd.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The market size of the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom is £8.8bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
There are 3,823 businesses in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.5 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom?
The Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom?
The Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 12.8 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom are Compass Contract Services (UK) Ltd, CD&R and WSH JVco (UK) Ltd and Sodexo Ltd
What does the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom include?
On-premises food services and Meals for takeaway consumption are part of the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom is Compass Contract Services (UK) Ltd.
How competitive is the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Food-Service Contractors industry in the United Kingdom.
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