Worksite Cafeteria Traffic Picks Up As Employees Return to Work

After the pandemic caused a serious slowdown to business and industry (B&I) foodservice operations with the number of employees working from home spiking, the second quarter showed the segment is beginning to recover as more employees return to work.

According to data from The NPD Group, customer visits to B&I outlets increased by 25% in the second quarter compared to a year ago. During the same period, case shipments from broadline foodservice distributors to B&I foodservice operators increased by 35%, and broadline foodservice dollars shipped to B&I operators grew by 60%.

“B&I is an important growth segment for foodservice manufacturers and their foodservice distributor partners,” says Tim Fires, president of NPD’s SupplyTrack, in a press release. “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.”

The Pacific Census Division, which includes California, Oregon and Washington, had the most volume and increase in case shipments from broadline foodservice distributors, with case shipments up 61% and dollars shipped up 74%. The Middle Atlantic Census Division, which includes New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, ranked second, with case shipments up 55% and dollars shipped up 87%.