Annual turnover in the UK contract catering market grew fractionally by 0.8% to £4.165m in 2009, compared with £4.133b in 2008, according to the latest survey by the British Hospitality Association.
As the number of catering outlets dropped by 2.3%(to 16,583) and the number of meals fell marginally by 0.7% (to 1.607 billion), much of the growth came from non-catering business such as facilities management, which has become an increasingly important market, especially for larger companies, in the business and industry sector and others. In fact, non-catering turnover grew to £750m in 2009, or 18% of the total.
During the year , the cost of food and labour fell marginally, while management fees were static.
These facts and figures are reported in the Food and Service Management Survey 2008 published by the British Hospitality Association. The full report (which is free to BHA members) can be bought for £95 (for the printed version) or £50 (for a PDF file). For enquiries or orders, phone 0207 404 7744 or contact Philippa Brady.
More facts and figures from the Food and Service Management Survey
Number of meals served by UK contract caterers >>
Key ratios in contract catering >>
Types of catering contract >>
Number of employees in UK contract catering market >>
Structure of the UK contract catering market >>
Annual turnover in the UK contract catering market from 1993 to 2007
| Year | Turnover |
| 2009 | £4.165b |
| - Labour | £1.792b |
| - F&B | £1.337b |
| - Other | £476m |
| - Management fee | £560m |
| 2008 | £4.133b |
| - Labour | £1.81b |
| - F&B | £1.358b |
| - Other | £405m |
| - Management fee | £560m |
| 2007 | £3.977b |
| - Labour | £1.79b |
| - F&B | £1.257b |
| - Other | £390m |
| - Management fee | £540 |
| 2006 | £3.768b |
| - Labour | £1.713b |
| - F&B | £1.175b |
| - Other | £360m |
| - Management fee | £520m |
| 2005* | £3.673b |
| - Labour | £1.677b |
| - F&B | £1.126b |
| - Other | £360m+ |
| - Management fee | £510m |
| 2004 | £3.898b |
| - Labour | £1.720b |
| - F&B | £1.296b |
| - Other | £363m |
| - Management fee | ££520m |
| 2003 | £3.783b |
| - Labour | £1.66b |
| - F&B | £1.27 |
| - Other | £343m |
| - Management fee | £520m |
| 2002 | £3.695b |
| - Labour | £1.61b |
| - F&B | £1.31b |
| - Other | £290m |
| - Management fee | £490m |
| 2001 | £3.514b |
| 2000 | £3.266b |
| 1999 | £3.010b |
| 1998 | £2.651b |
| 1997 | £2.258b |
| 1996 | £2.227b |
| 1995 | £2.257b |
| 1994 | £2.180b |
| 1993 | £2.006b |
| - Labour | £862m |
| - F&B | £610m |
| - Other | £124m |
| - Management fee | £210m |
* Figures adjusted to take account of Compass's sale of Select Service Partner in 2006: before adjustments, turnover totalled £3.865b.