Industry Statistics and Trends
Caterers in Europe key trends
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a big dent in caterers’ revenue.
Across Europe, strict gathering restrictions led to the cancellation of many events that require catering (think weddings and conferences), decimating industry demand.
Caterers will expand their offerings to meet client needs.
Evolving consumer preferences and tastes are forcing caterers to innovate and introduce new offerings catering to growing health and environmental awareness alongside veganism and vegetarianism.
Access all insights and trends with purchase. View purchase options.
Caterers in Europe
Industry Revenue
Total value and annual change from 2011-2029. Includes 5-year outlook.
Access the 5-year outlook with purchase. View purchase options
Caterers in Europe market size (2019-2024)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 7.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €20.6bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Falling marriage rates hinder demand for wedding caterers
- The number of marriages across Europe has dropped in recent decades, suppressing demand for catering at weddings. According to Eurostat, 1.7 million marriages took place in the EU in 2021, with the marriage rate per 1,000 persons declining by over 50% in relative terms since 1964.
Access all 9 market size insights and trends with purchase. View purchase options.
Caterers in Europe outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Recovering economic conditions will spur splashing on catering services
- Following the challenging economic conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent inflationary environment, improving economic climate in the medium-term will support consumer and business confidence. As more private and corporate events take place, demand for catering services will climb.
Access all 7 forward-looking insights and industry data forecasts with purchase. View purchase options.
Revenue
€20.6bn
Employees
318k
Wages
€X.Xbn
European Leaders & Laggards
* CAGR values are for the years 2019-2024.
Explore all 37 country performance rankings and data sheets with your membership purchase.
Biggest companies in the Caterers in Europe
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue (€m)
2024 | Profit (€m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CH & Co Catering Group Ltd | 468.9 | 9.2 | 2.0 | |
Kuffler Catering Service GmbH & Co KG | 79.2 | 7.4 | 9.3 | |
lemonpie Eventcatering GmbH | 66.0 | 6.2 | 9.3 |
Access statistics and analysis on all 10 companies with purchase. View purchase options.
Caterers in Europe
Products & Services Segmentation
Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.
Access all segmentation data and analysis with purchase. View purchase options.
Top Questions Answered in this Report
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Caterers industry in Europe in 2024?
The market size of the Caterers industry in Europe is €20.6bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Caterers in Europe industry in 2024?
There are 78,088 businesses in the Caterers industry in Europe, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Caterers industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Caterers industry in Europe has been declining at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Caterers industry in Europe over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Caterers industry in Europe is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Caterers market in Europe?
The biggest companies operating in the Caterers market in Europe are CH & Co Catering Group Ltd, Kuffler Catering Service GmbH & Co KG and lemonpie Eventcatering GmbH
What does the Caterers in Europe include?
Corporate functions and Weddings are part of the Caterers industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Caterers in Europe?
The company holding the most market share in Europe is CH & Co Catering Group Ltd.
Which countries have the most businesses in the Caterers industry in Europe?
The European country with the most businesses in the Caterers industry is France.
How competitive is the Caterers industry in Europe?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Caterers industry in Europe.
Related Industries
This industry is covered in 37 countries
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The industry includes companies engaged in the provision of catering services for one-off events at specified locations like weddings, private parties and corporate functions. The industry excludes the provision of contracted catering on an ongoing basis.
Related Terms
Food-Service ContractorsVeganismSustainable ProduceCrude Marrige RateWhat's included in this industry?
Corporate functionsWeddingsPrivate functionsCommunity events and educational facilitiesCompanies
CH & Co Catering Group LtdKuffler Catering Service GmbH & Co KGlemonpie Eventcatering GmbHIndustry Code
5621 - Event catering in Europe
View up to 10 companies with purchase. View purchase options.
Performance
Key Takeaways
Falling marriage rates hinder demand for wedding caterers
View more insights with purchase. View purchase options.
Revenue Highlights
Trends
- Revenue
- 2024 Revenue CAGR
- Revenue Volatility
Employment Highlights
Trends
- Employees
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Employee
Business Highlights
Trends
- Businesses
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Business
Profit Highlights
Trends
- Total Profit
- Profit Margin
- Profit per Business
Current Performance
Charts
- Revenue in the Caterers in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
- Employees in the Caterers in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
- Business in the Caterers in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
- Profit in the Caterers in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
Analysis
What's driving current industry performance in the Caterers in Europe industry?
Outlook
Analysis
What's driving the Caterers in Europe industry outlook?
Volatility
Analysis
What influences volatility in the Caterers in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix
Life Cycle
Analysis
What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Caterers in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Life Cycle Matrix
Products and Markets
Highlights
Trends
- Largest Market
- Product Innovation
Key Takeaways
Subdued economic environment hinders business spending on catering. Despite a resurgence in demand following the COVID-19 blip, economic uncertainty and rising inflation in 2022 and 2023 have forced businesses to cut spending on corporate functions.
Products and Services
Charts
- Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis
How are the Caterers in Europe industry's products and services performing?
Analysis
What are innovations in the Caterers in Europe industry's products and services?
Major Markets
Charts
- Major Market Segmentation
Analysis
What influences demand in the Caterers in Europe industry?
International Trade
Highlights
- Largest Importer
- Smallest Importer
- Total Imports into Europe
- Largest Exporter
- Smallest Exporter
- Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
- Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
- Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables
Value and annual change (%) included
- Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2024)
Geographic Breakdown
Business Locations
Heat maps
- Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2024)
- Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2024)
- Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2024)
- Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2024)
Industry Geographic Breakdown
Data Tables
Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:
- Revenue (2024)
- IVA (2024)
- Enterprises (2024)
- Employment (2024)
- Exports (2024)
- Imports (2024)
Competitive Forces
Highlights
Trends
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
Key Takeaways
The industry is highly fragmented. There are many small-scale catering service providers with new players entering the industry due to opportunities presented by the growing health and sustainability awareness of consumers across Europe.
Supply Chain
Charts
Buyer and supply industries
Companies
Market Share
Charts
- Industry Market Share by Company (2019-2024)
Companies
Data Tables
Top 10 companies by market share:
- Market share (2024)
- Revenue (2024)
- Profit (2024)
- Profit Margin (2024)
Data Tables
- Countries of operation for CH & Co Catering Group Ltd
- Countries of operation for Kuffler Catering Service GmbH & Co KG
- Countries of operation for lemonpie Eventcatering GmbH
- Countries of operation for Agriserv Europa Meat SRL
- Countries of operation for Albron BV
- Countries of operation for Carpe Diem Catering Ltd
- Countries of operation for MyTraiteur
- Countries of operation for Risto3
- Countries of operation for John Coughlan Catering Ltd
- Countries of operation for Absolute Taste Ltd
External Environment
Highlights
Trends
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key Takeaways
Caterers must abide by strict food rules. Due to the services provided by catering service companies, they must meet various food health and safety standard regulations, including food preparation, storage and disposing.
External Drivers
Analysis
What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Caterers in Europe industry?
Financial Benchmarks
Highlights
Trends
- Profit Margin
- Average Wage
- Largest Cost
Key Takeaways
Impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak and high inflation challenge profitability. The pandemic kept people indoors and decimated demand for catering services, weighing heavily on profit. Soaring inflation in 2022 and 2023 further constrained profit, though inflation is easing in 2024.
Cost Structure
Charts
- Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
-
Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
- Marketing
- Depreciation
- Profit
- Purchases
- Wages
- Rent
- Utilities
- Other
Analysis
What trends impact cost in the Caterers in Europe industry?
Key Ratios
Data tables
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
Country Benchmarks
European Leaders & Laggards
Data Tables
Top and boottom five countries listed for each:
- Revenue Growth (2024)
- Business Growth (2024)
- Job Growth (2024)
European Country Performance
Data Tables
Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:
- IVA/Revenue (2024)
- Imports/Demand (2024)
- Exports/Revenue (2024)
- Revenue per Employee (2024)
- Wages/Revenue (2024)
- Employees per Establishment (2024)
- Average Wage (2024)
Structural Comparison
Data Tables
Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
- Volatility
- Capital Intensity
- Innovation
- Life Cycle
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
Where does IBISWorld source its data?
IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools.
To learn more about specific data sources used by IBISWorld's analysts globally, including how industry data forecasts are produced, visit our Help Center.
