Britain’s leading contract caterers dish out 9% sales in Q4 2025
Full-year sales rose 8.4% year-on-year, outpacing inflation.
Britain’s leading contract caterers posted 9% sales in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025, driven by strong demand in the run-up to Christmas, according to NIQ’s latest Contract Catering Tracker, supported by Bidfood and UKHospitality.
For the full year, group sales grew 8.4% year-on-year, comfortably outpacing inflation.
“The figures reflect the broad appeal and high quality of Britain’s catering sector, and it can look forward to more growth in 2026,” said Karl Chessell, director of hospitality operators and food, EMEA, at NIQ.
The Tracker also showed only a modest rise in outlets served—up about 1.3% quarter-on-quarter—implying that most of the sales gains were from higher spending at existing sites rather than new openings.
A separate analysis by Research and Markets projects further growth in the wider contract catering industry.
Its 2026 European outlook estimates the market will increase from roughly $55b in 2024 to more than $70b by 2030, driven by demographic shifts, product and service innovation, and sustained demand across workplace and healthcare catering.
Europe accounts for nearly 28% of the global contract catering market, driven largely by demand from hospitals and schools, according to a report by Global Growth Insights.
About 64% of schools and universities rely on contract catering services to comply with government nutrition standards.
Sustainability measures are becoming a core priority, with 58% of providers introducing zero-waste policies.
At the same time, 53% of consumers are seeking vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
In Western Europe, the ageing population is contributing to rising demand for catering services in elderly healthcare facilities.
