MAFSI Barometer Reports Flat Sales in Q1/25

MAFSI has released its Q1/2025 Foodservice Business Barometer, reporting overall sales for the quarter were flat at 0%.

It’s the second time in five quarters the Barometer has reported quarterly sales changes were 0%. Over this period, changes were 0.0%,-1.0%,-0.6%, +0.2% and 0.0%. It averages out to 15 months of negativity.

In Q1/25, the equipment product category was up +0.9%, while supply, tabletop and furniture were down by -2.0%, -2.5% and -4.8%, respectively.

By region, the Northeast contracted by -2.3% and the Midwest -0.7%, while the South increased 0.3%, West, 2.0% and Canada, 3.3%.

An increase of +1.0% marks the forecast for Q2/25.

“We are now in the fourth year of slowing negative sales with further concerns on the horizon, due to tariff-induced supply distortions,” says Michael R. Posternak, CEO, PBAC & Associates, in the executive summary. “Similarly to the early days of Covid, we are in the midst of uncertainty. ‘Yo-Yo’ tariffs make it nearly impossible to forecast future outcomes and to plan prudent actions.”

Posternak says that some manufacturers have advanced orders in the hope of beating tariffs while others have frozen or canceled orders. He adds that, “pricing is holding or increasing while growth is absent, creating a climate of stagflation and uncertainty.”