Overview

The 11,600 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 about half of industry revenue, corporate events are about a third, 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.