Industry Sales Show Slim Progress, Modest Growth Ahead

Overall sales for Q1/26 increased by 1.0% versus Q1/25, according to the MAFSI Business Barometer, a nonfood sales/trend indicator for the foodservice industry. The result fell well short of the 3.5% forecasted.

By product category, sales were -0.5%, tabletop; 0.6%, furniture; 0.9%, equipment; and 4.9%, supply.

By region, sales shrank by -1.3%, Midwest, and grew by 0.9%, West; 1.3%, South; 2.3%, Canada; and 2.6%, Northeast.

Quoting and consultant activity improved in Q1/26 versus Q4/25. SpecPath shows 880 specified projects in Q1/26, compared with 1,013 in Q1/25, about a 13% drop.

MAFSI reps are forecasting for Q2/26 modest growth of 1.5%, led by the West, 4.3%; Northeast, 4.0%; Canada, 2.1%; South, 0%, and Midwest, -0.8%.

In his summary, Michael R. Posternak, chairman of PBAC 3.0 LLC, says industry worries are led by “inflationary pressures which dampen demand, including, food, gasoline, tariffs, and transportation, as well as concerns of the effects of the midterm elections and the war with Iran.”

Click here to view the full Q1/26 MAFSI Business Barometer report.