Business & Industry Segment​

The business and industry segment made up 10% of the total sales of the noncommercial segments in 2020. The total retail sales for the business and industry segment stood at $8.4 billion in 2020, down from $15.1 billion in 2015. The segment felt the impact of the pandemic as remote work became the norm for office-based jobs and many companies are still remote today. The segment is expected to return to pre-pandemic sales of $15 billion by 2025. 

Foodservice management firms dominate the business and industry segment. Approximately 74% of all retail sales in the business and industry segment were made by operators managed by foodservice management firms.

Examples: Microsoft Redmond Campus (WA), Googleplex (CA), Apple Park (CA), Amazon Headquarters (WA)

Key Segment Trends​

  • Sustainability and reducing food waste are becoming increasingly more important.  
  • Food is increasingly being used as a recruitment tool and driver for employee satisfaction, which will continue when employees return to offices. 
  • Grab-and-go offerings are increasingly being made available for employees looking for convenience. 
  • ​Increasingly operators are moving away from the traditional single main cafeteria line and are opting for individual action stations. 

​Key Decision-Makers

  • Foodservice Directors - Run the foodservice operations and tend to have a strong input into the types of equipment necessary for that operation. 
  • Operations Managers - Overlook most key unit-level functions related to facility management, including the purchase of equipment and supplies. 
  • Chefs - Often don't make the final decision, but play a secondary role as influencers.
  • Design Consultants - Often defer to design consultants on brand and equipment specifications on new builds and major remodels. 

Role of Equipment Within the Segment

  • Due to increased demand for customization, operators would greatly benefit from having cooking equipment like rapid-cook ovens.
  • Operators can benefit from versatile and mobile chef stations, which can have applications as individual action stations. 
  • Operators looking to implement efforts to improve sustainability will benefit from having highly energy-efficient equipment for refrigeration and dishwashing.
  • Grab-and-go display units may see a boost in sales.​​

​​Download In-Depth Report for Business and Industry Segment here​