It continues momentum from a very strong 2025, in which contract caterers achieved year-growth above 8% in all four quarters.
Leading groups have now increased sales year-on-year in every quarter since mid-2021, when venues were reopening after Covid-19 restrictions. Groups’ MAT growth—for sales over the last 12 months compared to the prior 12 months—now stands at 10.7%.
The Contract Catering Tracker shows first-quarter growth was partly driven by a 4% increase in the number of outlets served by Britain’s leading operators between March 2025 and March 2026. The majority of the increase was organic, with sales rising at many of contract caterers’ sites in the private and public sectors.
Debra Morrell, business development controller for B&I at Bidfood, said: “It’s really encouraging to see the contract catering sector carry such strong momentum into 2026. Growth is coming not just from more outlets, but from genuinely stronger day‑to‑day demand across both private and public sector workplaces.
“As employers place greater focus on employee experience, wellbeing and value, contract caterers are stepping up with flexible, high‑quality food and service offer that give people a reason to be in the workplace. While cost pressures, labour challenges and cautious confidence haven’t gone away, the sector continues to adapt and innovate – and that resilience is helping it outperform inflation and the wider out‑of‑home market.”