The contract catering industry has experienced some relatively tough trading conditions in the last four years, especially within the business and industry sector, a key part of this sizeable market. In addition, the sector is fraught with a number of key political issues given the current government’s concern with healthy eating.

Overall, the industry has continued to demonstrate a willingness to change, with a surge in the number of small and medium sized suppliers helping to hone special skills and expertise in specific sectors of the market. However the continued success of the sector and the growth of outsourcing generally within the business arena has drawn more and more specialist competitors into the market place.

Covering contract catering within both the commercial and non-profit-making sectors, this report analyses all the key industry trends, including the outsourcing of non-primary tasks, the introduction of some facets of high street catering and the increasingly consumer-led rather than operationally driven nature of the sector.

Based on an exclusive survey conducted among all the major companies in the foodservice management industry, Mintel’s report includes in-depth research with some of the industry key players and clients to explore the key issues within the market.

This report provides vital new insight into the current state of the market and its prospects, investigating its drivers, segmentation, supply structure, distribution, advertising spend and sales forecasts. Use Mintel’s research to avoid market pitfalls, discover sector opportunities, identify growth potential and maximise your sales.