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System Catering in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Nina Koefler Nina Koefler Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: October 2024 WZ SP56.03DE Spotlight Report

Revenue

€29.0bn

2024

€29.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€X.Xbn

Employees

173k

Businesses

1,137

Wages

€X.Xbn

System Catering in Germany industry analysis

Over the past five years, the development of the food service industry has been shaped by the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, digitalisation and current consumer trends. Due to the pandemic, sales in all areas of system catering collapsed in 2020. Restaurants, bars and cafés had to close temporarily, travel was restricted and events were cancelled. As a result, both restaurant chain sales and sales in the transport and leisure catering sector collapsed. Due to the slow normalisation of consumer behaviour, industry sales have fallen by an average of 1.8% per year since 2019. With the lifting of infection control measures, demand for the industry's products and services has gradually increased again since 2021. In the last two years, consumers' willingness to spend has been slightly dampened by high inflation, but industry turnover is still expected to increase by 1.1% to €29 billion in 2024.How often consumers visit self-service restaurants, restaurants, cafés and other catering establishments and how much money they spend there depends, among other things, on the level of disposable income. In most cases, a visit to a catering establishment is a non-essential expense that is foregone in times of crisis. In recent years, the rise in net household income has tended to have a positive effect on consumer spending in the catering sector. Since the previous year, however, high inflation has dampened consumers' willingness to spend, which is reflected in a slowdown in sales growth. Due to the health trend, numerous restaurant chains specialising in salads, wraps, soups and vegetarian and vegan dishes have been established in recent years. This has enabled the sector to improve its image and attract new customer groups.In the period from 2024 to 2029, industry turnover is expected to increase by an average of 1.2% per year to 30.8 billion euros. The number of industry players and their businesses is also likely to grow as new players enter the market and established companies expand.

Trends and Insights

  • The pandemic and increasing digitalisation are accelerating the expansion of delivery services. During the pandemic, infection control measures have forced food service companies to expand their delivery service offerings. Online delivery service platforms and dedicated apps are making ordering particularly attractive for customers.
  • Quickservice system catering is particularly popular with consumers. Consumers tend to choose restaurants that offer the best value for money. In addition to cost savings, quick service with the option of takeaway or delivery is another factor in favour of quick service restaurants.
  • Competitive pressure is increasing. Industry players such as McDonald's and Starbucks have set themselves the goal of increasing their operating figures over the next five years, which is likely to further increase market concentration and make it more difficult for smaller industry players to hold their own in the market.

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  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €29.0bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The franchise model offers the best expansion opportunities for system catering

  • Most system catering businesses are operated in a franchise system. Under the franchise model, franchisees, who are independent entrepreneurs, acquire the right to utilise the franchisor's business concept. Franchisors usually charge a start-up fee and receive a percentage of the turnover from ongoing operations.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
System Catering in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

New technologies increase customer satisfaction and reduce labour requirements

  • With increasing digitalisation, more and more companies are developing their own apps that customers can use to place orders for home delivery, consumption on site or takeaway. This allows consumers to schedule their meals to be ready at a specific time, thereby avoiding waiting times.

Biggest companies in the System Catering in Germany

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the System Catering in Germany industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

System Catering in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Quick service catering, Full-service catering and Location-specific catering. Quick service catering is the largest segment of the System Catering in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Quick service is the most popular form of system catering

  • Quick service system catering includes restaurants, snack bars and coffee house chains that specialise in fast food and efficient service. This type of catering offers a limited menu and uncomplicated service and prepares food and drinks quickly in order to serve many customers in the shortest possible time.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

System catering is a form of gastronomy that differs from individual catering in its standardised and centralised organisational structures and operating processes. The aim of standardisation is to offer guests the same range of products of consistent quality in every establishment. Restaurant, snack bar and café operators as well as caterers with more than three locations are considered system catering businesses.

What's included in this industry?

Quick service system catering Full-service system cateringLocation-specific system cateringOther system catering

Companies

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Related Terms

FAST FOODINDIVIDUAL CATERINGFRANCHISE MODEL

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 56.10 - System Catering in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The pandemic and increasing digitalisation are accelerating the expansion of delivery services. During the pandemic, infection control measures have forced food service compa...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Factors that influence volatility in the industry
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Quickservice system catering is particularly popular with consumers. Consumers tend to choose restaurants that offer the best value for money. In addition to cost savings, qu...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

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In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competitive pressure is increasing. Industry players such as McDonald's and Starbucks have set themselves the goal of increasing their operating figures over the next five ye...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

System caterers must comply with the regulations applicable in the catering industry. The industry players must comply with the Catering Act, general labour and hygiene regul...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The staff requirements of system catering are comparatively low. The highly standardised dishes and drinks as well as the efficient work processes enable guests to be served ...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

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)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the System Catering industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the System Catering industry in Germany is €29.0bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the System Catering in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 1,137 businesses in the System Catering industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the System Catering industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the System Catering industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the System Catering industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the System Catering industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What does the System Catering in Germany include?

Quick service system catering and Full-service system catering are part of the System Catering industry.

How competitive is the System Catering industry in Germany?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the System Catering industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Complementors

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.