Chicago, August 8, 2022 — Business and Industry (B&I) foodservice operations, like worksite cafeterias, are recovering from pandemic losses as more employees return to worksites. In the quarter ending June 2022, broadline foodservice distributors increased their case unit shipments to B&I foodservice operators by 35% compared to a year ago, reports The NPD Group. Broadline foodservice dollars shipped to B&I operators grew by 60% in the second quarter versus a year ago. Customer visits to B&I foodservice outlets, excluding vending, increased by 25% in the quarter ending June compared to a year ago.

B&I foodservice operators in the Pacific Census Division, which includes California, Oregon, and Washington, had the most volume and significant increase in case shipments from broadline foodservice distributors, with case shipments up 61% and dollars shipped up 74% in the quarter ending June compared to a year ago. The Middle Atlantic Census Division, which includes New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, ranked second with B&I broadline foodservice case shipments up 55%; and dollars shipped up 87% in the quarter ending June compared to a year ago, according to NPD’s SupplyTrack, which continually tracks shipments and revenue from broadline foodservice distributors to commercial and non-commercial foodservice outlets.  

The food and beverages shipped to B&I foodservice operations represent a broad spectrum to appeal to various customers’ tastes. Notably are shipments of foods and beverages with high growth that reflect popular trends—for example, the well-publicized plant-based proteins category. Broadline foodservice case shipments of plant-based proteins to B&I foodservice operators increased by 132% in the quarter compared to a year ago. The popularity of chicken shows up in B&I case shipments, up 39% in the second quarter compared to a year ago. The return to worksites also signals the return of breakfast away from home. Case shipments of breakfast categories, like bacon, bakery, cereal, coffee, and eggs, grew from 30% to 75% in the quarter ending June versus a year ago, reports NPD.

“B&I is an important growth segment for foodservice manufacturers and their foodservice distributor partners,” says Tim Fires, president of NPD’s SupplyTrack. “The segment’s growth is impressive and a signal for what to expect in the fall when more office workers return to a regular schedule after summer vacations.”