MAFSI Reps Report Another Strong Quarter

Sales of equipment and supplies rose 5% in the third quarter 2015 compared with the third quarter ’14, according to reps reporting for the Manufacturer’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry Business Barometer. The strong gain comes on the heels of a 5.1% increase in the second quarter and a 4.7% uptick in the first quarter of 2015. Growth was evenly spread across MAFSI’s five regions and the major product categories. This year’s increases are very much in line with Foodservice Equipment Reports‘ current forecast of a 4.8% nominal gain in E&S sales in 2015.

Sales of equipment rose 5.2% in the third quarter, durable supplies sales were up 4.5%, tabletop sales jumped 5.5% and sales of furniture rose 2.9%. Among the equipment categories, primary cooking, refrigeration and ice and prep equipment all recorded gains above 5%. Only warewashing and sanitation equipment, up 3.4%, and ventilation, which posted a 3% gain, saw more moderate increases.

Among the regions, the Midwest saw sales rise 5.7% while the Northeast gain was 5.4%; sales rose 5.1% in the West. Canada posted a 4.7% increase even as the general economy in Canada remained sluggish. Sales were up 4.3% in the South.

Quotation and consultant activity remained strong in the third quarter. Only 11% of the reps reporting said they saw less quotation activity in quarter three vs. quarter two while only 6% saw a drop in consultant activity.

Given the strong performance the past three quarters, the reps’ forecast for the fourth quarter and 2016 seem quite conservative. The reps foresee a 4.3% increase in the fourth quarter and a 4.5% gain for 2016 vs. this year.

The complete MAFSI Barometer report is available at mafsi.org.”””