Contact catering sales down 9% from pre-COVID-19 levels

Inflation is blamed for the decline in sales.

Despite returning to normal, the contact catering sales sector lagged behind pre-pandemic levels, declining 9% in the third quarter of 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels.

This is according to the latest Contract Catering Tracker from CGA by NielsenIQ and Bidfood.

The index also showed that sales from July to September 2022 were 41% higher than in the same quarter of 2021.
Number of units being served by these caterers went up by 500 since September 2021 but remains more than 800 sites short of total market at September 2019.

Karl Chessell, CGA’s director - hospitality operators and food, EMEA, said, “After more than two years of COVID upheaval, contract caterers are now besieged by soaring costs that are impacting spending by their clients and consumers alike. Considering the seismic challenges, it is encouraging to see that sales are substantially up year-on-year and are approaching pre-COVID levels. Contract catering is a resilient and innovative sector, but with business and consumer confidence so fragile there are some tough months ahead.”