European industry overview

FoodServiceEurope’s goal is to provide constructive and intelligent solutions to the key socio-economic challenges that concern our industry. Through this we aim to drive sustainable growth for the contract catering sector and for Europe as a whole.

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A contractual relationship

A contractual relationship between the third-party organisation and the contract catering service provider.

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Third-party organisation

Its services are offered in the premises of the third-party organisation.

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Its sector has a clearly defined clientele

Workers, civil servants, school and university students, patients, and prisoners, etc. who have access to a canteen or internal restaurant.

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Social price

Its meals are often delivered to the end consumer at a subsidised “social” price.

Companies, public authorities, crèches, schools, universities, retirement homes, hospitals and prisons are all increasingly relying on contract catering.
The contract catering industry has an annual turnover of over €25 billion, with potential for growth as on average only 35% of firms or collective organisations that offer a social food servce in the EU have a contract with a catering company. The sector employs 600,000 people all over Europe and delivers approximately 6 billion meals each year.

FoodServiceEurope aims to provide decision makers with a better understanding of the contract catering industry and the far-reaching role it plays, leading to better-informed EU policies.

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We employ 600.000 people across Europe.

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We serve one in every two meals taken at the workplace.

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We prepare more than one in four meals at school.

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We deliver 6 billion meals annually.

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We employ 600.000 people across Europe.

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We serve one in every two meals taken at the workplace.

0%

We prepare more than one in four meals at school.

0 billion

We deliver 6 billion meals annually.

Continued growth

Despite unprecedented progress over the past decade in online developments and telecommunications, work commuting distances continue to grow for many people. In addition, the trend of both parents working outside of the home continues to grow. Finally, with a steadily ageing population in Europe, the need for catered meals in work and other locations continues to rise.

The outsourcing of services has amplified across all sectors due to businesses and other organisations – both in the private and public sector – increasingly realising that outsourcing catering operations allows for a greater focus of attention, time and resources on their core business, as well as provides better value for the operator and the final consumer.

Evolving relationships

As the trend for eating outside of the home continues to rise; contract catering also spans far more venues and events than in the past, including: sporting events and facilities, museums, train stations, airports and others. These organisations often rely on their contracted caterer to establish a style, atmosphere and image to the final customers.

In addition, contract caterers are increasingly carrying out a wider range of services that go beyond the provision of meals and related food services, with some companies providing overall facility management. Additional services that are being provided by contract caterer companies are notably cleaning, building maintenance, secretarial, security and laundry.