Caterers serve more meals but margins are tighter

Caterers served more meals in the last three months of 1995 than they have in the last quarter of any year since 1991, according to the latest figures from research company Marketpower.

The Quarterly Catering Barometer, which is based on a sample of 750 caterers, shows that during the whole of 1995 the number of meals served was up by 4% on 1994.

But Marketpower warns that the increase in volume is not necessarily good news. It points to the latest survey from the British Hospitality Association's contract catering forum, which showed that while the number of meals served in that sector was up by 4.1% the value of food purchases increased by just 2.5%.

Margins are suffering, suggests Marketpower, and caterers are responding by cutting costs.

The Marketpower study indexes the number of meals served, with January 1991 as the base month, equal to 100. The catering industry is broken down into 10 sectors, allowing comparison of each sector since January 1991.

For further information contact Marketpower on 0181-840 5252.