Contract Food Service Management Market Report 2026

The contract food service management market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $213.08 billion in 2025 to $226.06 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of corporate dining programs, expansion of institutional food services, increasing focus on hygiene and food safety standards, rising operational cost pressures, wider acceptance of outsourced catering services.

The contract food service management market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $283.09 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to expansion of integrated facility and food management contracts, rising demand for nutrition-focused meal offerings, increasing adoption of technology-enabled food services, growing emphasis on sustainability in food sourcing, expansion of large-scale contract catering agreements. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of outsourced food service models, rising focus on standardized quality and compliance, growing demand for cost-efficient meal programs, expansion of customized menu planning services, enhanced use of digital food management systems.

The expansion of the hospitality and travel sector has fueled the growth of the contract food service management market during the historic period. The hospitality and travel sector includes businesses that offer lodging, food, transportation, and entertainment services, catering to travelers and tourists to ensure comfort, convenience, and memorable experiences. This sector is expanding due to rising disposable incomes, allowing more people to spend on leisure, vacations, and travel experiences, which increases demand for hotels, restaurants, and tourism services. Contract food service management supports the hospitality and travel sector by delivering high-quality, customized dining solutions for hotels, resorts, and travel facilities, enhancing guest satisfaction and operational efficiency. For instance, in December 2023, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, an Australia-based government agency, domestic tourism consumption increased by $34.9 billion to reach $124.9 billion in 2022-23, while international tourism consumption grew by $17.7 billion to $23.6 billion in chain volume terms. Therefore, the expansion of the hospitality and travel sector has driven the growth of the contract food service management market.

Major companies operating in the contract food service management market are focusing on technologically advanced solutions, such as robotic meal service systems, to improve efficiency and provide round-the-clock meal availability for healthcare staff. A robotic meal service system is an automated kitchen solution that uses robotics to prepare, assemble, and serve customizable meals with minimal human intervention. For instance, in October 2025, Aramark Corporation, a US-based management service company, partnered with Roboeatz Ltd., a Canada-based food-tech company, to launch round-the-clock robotic meal service for healthcare staff using RoboEatz's Autonomous Robotic Kitchen (ARK) technology. These systems use advanced robotics to prepare fresh, customizable meals from up to 80 ingredients, operating efficiently within a compact 400-square-foot space. They integrate with Aramark’s digital platforms, including point-of-sale and supply chain systems, to automate the entire food preparation and service process. This innovation enhances food accessibility, consistency, and convenience for hospital staff and visitors, particularly during late-night and overnight hours when traditional dining options are limited.

In January 2025, Upper Crust Food Service, LLC, a US-based contract food service management company, acquired College Fresh Inc. for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Upper Crust Food Service aims to expand its presence in the college and university dining sector and strengthen its operational capabilities. College Fresh, Inc. is a US-based professional food service management company specializing in contract food service management solutions.

Major companies operating in the contract food service management market report are Compass Group PLC, Sodexo S.A., Aramark Corporation, ISS A/S, Elior Group S.A., HMSHost Corporation, Delaware North Companies Inc., SSP Group plc, OCS Group Holdings Ltd., ABM Industries Incorporated, Gulf Catering Company, Healthcare Services Group Inc., Thompson Hospitality Corporation, SATS LTD., AVI Foodsystems Inc., Centerplate Inc., Guckenheimer Enterprises Inc., Taher Inc., CH&CO Catering Group Limited, The RK Group LLC, National Catering Services & Foodstuff Company LLC, Bartlett Mitchell Limited, Conntrak Catering Services Ltd., Cater Care Holdings Pty. Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the contract food service management market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the contract food service management market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the contract food service management market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The contract food service management market includes revenues earned by entities through menu planning and development, staff recruitment and training, procurement and supply chain management, quality and safety compliance, and customer experience management. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.