The number of meals served by UK contract caterers grew by 1.2% to 1.6 billion in 2008, according to the latest survey by the British Hospitality Association.
Although the rise is smaller than the 3.8% growth reported for 2007, the total number of meals served by food service management companies has grown by 147% since 1991. During the same period, the number of outlets has increased by 42%.
The business and industry sector retains the lion’s share of the market, accounting for 44% of all meals served.
Healthcare and state education dished up 463 million meals in 2008, compared with just 44 million in 1989.
These facts and figures are reported in the Food and Service Management Survey 2008, published by the British Hospitality Association. The report is available for £50 as a hard copy or for £35 as a PDF file.
More facts and figures from the Food and Service Management Survey
UK contract catering turnover >>
Key ratios in contract catering >>
Types of catering contract >>
Number of employees in UK contract catering market >>
Structure of the UK contract catering market >>
Number of meals served (in millions) followed by percentage share of the total market
| | 2008 |
| Business
+ industry | 717
44.3% |
| Healthcare | 197
12.2% |
| State education | 266
16.4% |
| Independent schools | 88
5.4% |
| Local authorities | 23
1.4% |
| Ministry of Defence | 170
10.5% |
| Oil rigs ^ | 18
1% |
| Catering for the public | 140
8.7% |
Total and %
change year-on year | 1,619
+1.2% |
| | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
| Business
+ industry | 666
41.6% | 680
44.1% | 645
43.1% | 617
38.5% | 613
38.1% | 605
39.0% |
| Healthcare | 210
13.1% | 203
13.2% | 204
13.6% | 208
13% | 232
14.4% | 237
15.3% |
| State education | 289
18.1% | 272
17.6% | 265
17.7% | 287
17.9% | 281
17.5% | 250
16.1% |
| Independent schools | 100
6.3% | 105
6.8% | 100
6.7% | 120
7.5% | 135
8.4% | 128
8.3% |
| Local authorities | 19
1.2% | 20
1.3% | 22
1.5% | 28
1.7% | 37
2.3% | 35
2.3% |
| Ministry of Defence | 145
9.1% | 105
6.8% | 105
7.0% | 110
6.9% | 108
6.7% | 85
5.5% |
| Oil rigs ^ | 20
1.2% | 16
1.1% | 16
1.1% | 17
1.1% | 17
1.1% | 13
0.8% |
| Catering for the public | 150
9.4% | 139
9.1% | 139*
9.3% | 214
13.4% | 185
11.5% | 197
12.7% |
Total and %
change year-on year | 1,599
+3.8% | 1,540
+2.9% | 1,496
-6.5% | 1,601
- | 1,608
+3.7% | 1,550
+2.9% |
| | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1991 |
| Business
+ industry | 588
39.1% | 583
39.6% | 545
40.1% | 512
39.3% | 474
40% | 325
49.7% |
| Healthcare | 238
15.8% | 237
16.1% | 198
14.6% | 155
11.9% | 141
11.9% | 41
6.3% |
| State education | 227
15.1% | 218
14.8% | 222
16.3% | 238
18.3% | 228
19.3% | 33
5.0% |
| Independent schools | 125
8.3% | 92
6.3% | 93
6.8% | 92
7.1% | 76
6.4% | 81
2.4% |
| Local authorities | 42
2.8% | 44
3.0% | 44
3.2% | 40
3.1% | 31
2.6% | 31
4.7% |
| Ministry of Defence | 93
6.2% | 135
9.2% | 102
7.5% | 100
7.6% | 87
7.4% | 56
8.6% |
| Oil rigs ^ | 15
1.0% | 17
1.2% | 17
1.2% | 16
1.2% | 16
1.4% | 25
3.8% |
| Catering for the public * | 177
11.8% | 145
9.8% | 140
10.3% | 150
11.5% | 133
11% | 62
9.5% |
Total and %
change year-on year | 1,505
+2.3% | 1,471
+8.1% | 1,361
- | 1,303
- | 1,189
- | 654
- |
* Figures adjusted to take account of Compass's sale of Select Service Partner in 2006
^ Includes training centres and construction sites