Structure of the UK contract catering market
The number of contract catering outlets in the UK fell by 2.3% to 16,583 in 2009, down from 16,983 in the previous year, according to the latest survey by the British Hospitality Association.
The number of business and industry outlets dropped by 6%, largely due to a steep decline in prison catering and a 2.7% drop in B&I outlets, but remained the leading sector with a 49.4% share of the market. However, this share has dropped substantially from the 74.7% reported for 1991.
The state education and local authority sectors also saw declines, but healthcare, Ministry of Defence and leisure outlets all increased in numbers.
These facts and figures are reported in the Food and Service Management Survey 2010, 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
UK contract catering turnover >>
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 >>
Number of outlets followed (in bold green type) by percentage share of total outlets
| 2008 | 2009 | |
| Business & industry | 8,719 51.3% | 8,183 49.4% |
| Healthcare | 653 3.8% | 810 4.8% |
| State education | 5,136 30.3% | 4,781 28.8% |
| Independent schools | 637 3.7% | 642 3.9% |
| Local authorities | 282 1.7% | 200 1.2% |
| Ministry of Defence | 421 2.5% | 566 3.4% |
| Oil rigs \*\* | 163 1% | 264 1.7% |
| Catering for the public | 972 5.7% | 1,137 6.8% |
| Total and % change year-on year | 16,983-3.5% | 16,583-2.3% |
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005\* | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | |
| Business & industry | 8,436 47.9% | 9,103 52.4% | 8,973 51% | 8,975 49.8% | 8,939 48.6% | 9,078 47.8% |
| Healthcare | 636 3.6% | 799 4.6% | 839 4.8% | 859 4.8% | 882 4.8% | 863 4.5% |
| State education | 5,836 33.2% | 4,898 28.2% | 4,506 25.5% | 4,676 25.9% | 5,027 27.4% | 5,647 29.8% |
| Independent schools | 736 4.2% | 781 4.5% | 754 4.3% | 841 4.7% | 919 5.0% | 846 4.5% |
| Local authorities | 242 1.4% | 257 1.5% | 291 1.7% | 368 2.0% | 477 2.6% | 467 2.5% |
| Ministry of Defence | 352 2% | 421 2.4% | 490 2.8% | 520 2.9% | 522 2.8% | 372 2.0% |
| Oil rigs \*\* | 229 1.3% | 193 1.1% | 202 1.1% | 223 1.2% | 235 1.3% | 199 1.0% |
| Catering for the public | 1,136 6.4% | 921 5.3% | 914\* 5.4% | 1,566 8.7% | 1,385 7.5% | 1,507 7.9% |
| Total and % change year-on year | 17,603+1.3% | 17,373 +2.3% | 16,969 -5.8% | 18,028 -1.9% | 18,386 -3.1% | 18,979 +3.9% |
| 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1991 | |
| Business & industry | 9,002 49.2% | 8,930 50% | 8,766 49.1% | 8,410 46.3% | 7,671 45.6% | 7,775 74.7% |
| Healthcare | 960 5.2% | 971 5.5% | 923 5.2% | 822 4.5% | 704 4.2% | 337 3.2% |
| State education | 4,847 26.5% | 4,621 26% | 5,005 28.0% | 5,727 31.6% | 5,800 35.4% | 450 4.3% |
| Independent schools | 813 4.5% | 585 3.4% | 597 3.3% | 568 3.1% | 476 2.9% | 620 6.0% |
| Local authorities | 543 3.0% | 580 3.3% | 582 3.2% | 573 3.2% | 396 2.4% | 463 4.5% |
| Ministry of Defence | 401 3.2% | 580 3.3% | 502 2.9% | 467 2.6% | 412 2.5% | 190 1.8% |
| Oil rigs \*\* | 238 1.3% | 267 1.5% | 272 1.5% | 256 1.4% | 252 1.5% | 246 2.4% |
| Catering for the public | 1,485 8.1% | 1,253 7.0% | 1,218 6.8% | 1,328 7.3% | 991 5.5% | 324 3.1% |
| Total and % change year-on year | 18,289 +2.8% | 17,787 +0.4% | 17,865 - | 18,151 - | 16,702 - | 11,954 - |
* Figures readjusted to reflect Compass's sale of Select Service Partner in 2006
** Includes training centres and construction sites
An outlet is any catering unit (or part of a catering unit) that is separately operated and managed.
Business and industry includes department store staff and prisons/prison shops.
Healthcare includes NHS and private hospitals, along with nursing and retirement homes.
State education includes state schools, grant-maintained schools, further and higher eduction.
Independent schools include all private schools.
Local authority catering includes town administration, police, fire and welfare.
