Caterers

The 12,733 caterers in the US provide food and beverage services for a variety of events, including weddings, parties, luncheons, and trade shows. Additional services include equipment (tables, chairs, dinnerware) rental, floral/centerpiece design, and event planning/design. Weddings account for slightly more than half of industry revenue, corporate events are about a quarter, and social events are 20%.

Competition from Alternative Sources

Caterers compete with a variety of alternative sources, including restaurants and food retailers, such as warehouse clubs and grocery stores.

Seasonal, Uneven Demand

Demand for catering services can be seasonal and uneven, driven by holiday events and special occasions.

Nov 6, 2026 - Reducing Food Waste

• Cutting food waste is one way caterers can save money and boost profits, according to an October report from Cater+Event. An estimated 15% to 20% of food prepared for events goes to waste, often because planners expect more guests than actually attend and order too much food in anticipation. Caterers can tackle the problem by using past attendance figures to better estimate demand, keeping track of how much food guests are eating, and adjusting portions and meal quantities as needed. A pilot study conducted by the US Food Waste Pact found that adjusting portion sizes, reducing less popular menu items, and monitoring food consumption during events cut waste in targeted food categories by an average of 55%. Donating leftover food to local food banks and composting food scraps can also appeal to environmentally conscious customers.
• Corporate catering is becoming a more important workplace perk as employers look for ways to lure workers back to the office, creating new opportunities for caterers, according to DoorDash's 2026 Meal Impact Report. The report found that 93% of hybrid companies surveyed said meal programs helped boost office attendance. Employers are providing everything from lunch and group meals to breakfast, appetizers, and dinner. Companies budget an average of $21 per employee per day for meals, while ezCater says the typical workplace catering order is about $420 for 26 people. As companies make meals a regular employee benefit rather than an occasional perk, caterers could gain more recurring corporate customers and larger orders. At the same time, the growing market is attracting more competition from restaurants and delivery platforms looking to capture a share of corporate catering spending.
• Sustainability is quickly becoming a must-have rather than a nice-to-have for catering firms as clients increasingly expect environmentally responsible events, Cater+Event reports. Caterers that reduce food waste, replace single-use plastics with reusable or compostable alternatives, and source local, seasonal ingredients can reduce costs while creating a better guest experience. Better inventory management, food donation programs, reusable serviceware, and creative ways to repurpose leftovers can also improve efficiency and boost profits. As more corporate clients prioritize sustainability to support their own environmental goals and reporting, strong green practices are becoming an important advantage when competing for business. While adopting sustainable practices requires upfront planning and staff training, firms that make sustainability part of their everyday operations will be better positioned to meet customer expectations, adapt to future regulations, and strengthen their long-term competitiveness.
• Employment by caterers grew 2.2% in August compared to a year ago, while the average industry wage jumped 9% over the same period to a new high of $25.65 per hour, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Average wages at catering and mobile food services are up about 70% over the past decade, significantly higher than the 50% growth in all private nonsupervisory employee wages. Rising industry payroll costs were accompanied by a modest rise in wholesale food prices (up 0.1%) in August, continuing to pressure margins at catering services. Food typically accounts for a quarter to a third of sales at catering companies.

Industry size & Structure

The average caterer operates out of a single location, employs 12 workers, and generates about $1.1 million annually.

• The catering industry consists of about 12,735 companies, employs about 153,295 workers, and generates about $14.3 billion annually.
• The industry is highly fragmented; the top 50 firms account for 14% of industry sales.
• Corporate events are the leading source of revenue for the catering industry, followed by weddings, and social gatherings, according to Catersource.
• Some large restaurant chains offer catering services.