Community Food Services in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
New York, United States
Last Updated: May 2024
NAICS 62421Revenue
$25.1bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$XXX.Xm
Employees
60,111
Businesses
6,364
Wages
$X.Xbn
Community Food Services in the US industry analysis
The COVID-19 pandemic posed major challenges to community food services, prompting significant government aid and innovation in delivery methods within this sector to ensure safe and efficient food distribution. Due to the economic upheaval, millions called upon community food services, many for the first time. In response, government expenditure on social services nearly doubled to meet the increased unemployment and poverty of the pandemic. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act allocated $400.0 million in funding to local food banks through the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Per capita disposable income growth helped some individuals transition out of food insecurity. The pandemic also triggered the development of creative strategies for service delivery (temporary food banks in parking lots, online ordering systems and drive-through pick-up points). Despite performance slowdown post-pandemic and significant revenue volatility through the period, industry revenue grew at a CAGR of 10.7% through 2023, with revenue expected to strengthen 3.0% and reach $25.1 billion in 2024.
Trends and Insights
- Millions called upon community food services amid the crisis of COVID-19. Revenue increases were boosted by stellar government funding and new service delivery methods, including online ordering, drive-through locations and prepackaged food delivery.
- Community food services providers connect a variety of public and private contributors with food-insecure individuals, including those who are unemployed, homeless, elderly in need and from lower-income families.
- Food insecurity services are in short supply in many regions. Based on the population share, most US regions are underserved and would benefit from more community food services.
- Large providers do not cast a shadow but rather shine a light. Large organizations that bring national attention to food insecurity benefit the smaller community providers by increasing local awareness.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 10.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $25.1bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
The pandemic led to waves of government funding and novel delivery methods
- A near-doubling of government expenditures on social services met COVID-19's increased unemployment and poverty rates. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provided $400.0 million in funding to local food banks under the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). At the same time, the bounce in per capita disposable income shifted some individuals out of food insecurity.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Technology impacts many aspects of donation
- AI and technology will impact food production and donations. Grants from the NSF Convergence Accelerator Program focuses on food and nutritional security, with aims to advance regenerative agriculture, reduce water usage, improve access to affordable, nutritious food for disadvantaged communities and boost technology and job creation,
Biggest companies in the Community Food Services in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Feeding America | 3,985.9 | 16.8 | 0.4 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Soup kitchen and on-site meal provision, Food pantry and food bank services and Food collection and distribution. Soup kitchen and on-site meal provision is the largest segment of the Community Food Services in the US.
Trends and Insights
Food collection and distribution are fundamental to industry revenue and generate some positive externalites
- Food collection and distribution accounts for most of the industry revenue. It includes collecting, storing and distributing food and household goods for local and regional populations. Revenue generated from collecting and distributing donated food reflects the estimated value of donations from food manufacturers, retailers, restaurants, farmers and the government.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Community Housing & Homeless Shelters in the US
- Natural Disaster & Emergency Relief Services in the US
Complementors
- Adoption & Child Welfare Services in the US
- Elderly & Disabled Services in the US
- Family Counseling & Crisis Intervention Services in the US
International industries
- Food Service Contractors in Canada
- Personal Welfare Services in Australia
- Personal Welfare Services in New Zealand
- Provision of services to the community as a whole
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Community food service providers collect, prepare and deliver food to people in need. This industry includes food banks, meal delivery programs and fixed and mobile soup kitchens. Generally, establishments deliver meals to persons who cannot prepare meals for themselves due to age, disability or illness. Operators may also distribute clothing and blankets.
What's included in this industry?
Soup kitchen and on-site meal provisionFood pantry and food bank servicesFood collection and distributionOther services related to donated goods and foodCompanies
Feeding AmericaPurchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)TEMPORARY EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SOUP KITCHENFOOD BANK FOOD PANTRYFOOD SECURITYIndustry Code
NAICS 62421 - Community Food Services in the US
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Millions called upon community food services amid the crisis of COVID-19. Revenue increases were boosted by stellar government funding and new service delivery methods, inclu...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Community food services providers connect a variety of public and private contributors with food-insecure individuals, including those who are unemployed, homeless, elderly in...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Food insecurity services are in short supply in many regions. Based on the population share, most US regions are underserved and would benefit from more community food servic...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Large providers do not cast a shadow but rather shine a light. Large organizations that bring national attention to food insecurity benefit the smaller community providers by...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Larger companies can make better use of food surpluses. Major companies, including Feeding America and City Harvest, have the resources to collect and distribute surplus food...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Feeding America's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Feeding America, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Volunteers are crucial for keeping cost at bay. Companies that maintain a significant volunteer base will be able to stabilize profit during changeable economic times and con...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Donations and efficiency are vital to success. Donated food, volunteer labor and financial funding are the lifeblood of community food enterprises, with skills in logistics, ...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
- Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
- Income Statement (2017-2022)
- Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
- Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Community Food Services in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Community Food Services in the US industry in United States is $25.1bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Community Food Services in the US industry in 2024?
There are 6,364 businesses in the Community Food Services in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.6 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Community Food Services in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Community Food Services in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 10.7 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Community Food Services in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Community Food Services in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Community Food Services in the US market in United States?
The biggest company operating in the Community Food Services market in United States is Feeding America
What does the Community Food Services in the US in United States include?
Soup kitchen and on-site meal provision and Food pantry and food bank services are part of the Community Food Services in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Community Food Services in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is Feeding America.
How competitive is the Community Food Services in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is low and steady in the Community Food Services in the US industry in United States.
