Total food away from home expenditures in 2008 were $565 billion. Foodservice is categorized as commercial and noncommercial. Commercial foodservice includes fast food and full-service restaurants. According to the Economic Research Service, commercial foodservice accounted for about 77 percent of the food-away-from-home expenditures in 2006.

Noncommercial outlets prepare and serve meals as a support service to institutions and educational settings including schools, hospitals, nursing homes and child care centers. This segment accounted for about 15 percent of all food-away-from-home expenditures in 2006. All foodservice outlets compete with other food retail outlets including supermarkets and convenience stores to sell ready-to-eat products to consumers.


Source
Food Service, Food Marketing System in the U.S., Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA.

Food CPI and Expenditures, Economic Research Service, USDA.


General

• Commercial Food Equipment Service Association - This is a trade association of professional service and parts distributors for the foodservice industry.
• Foodservice and Packaging Institute, Inc. - Trade association for manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of single-use foodservice packaging products.
• Foodservice Central.com - Commercial site for industry professionals.
• Foodservice.com - Commercial site known as “the world’s largest foodservice community.”
• Foodservice Consultants Society International - An organization representing foodservice consultants.
• Foodservice Equipment & Supplies - A publication serving the foodservice equipment industry.
• FoodserviceWorld.com - Canadian publisher serving the foodservice, hospitality lodging and tourism markets.
  Hospitality Index - Web site for suppliers of products and services to the hospitality industry.
• International Food Manufacturers Association (IFMA) - This trade association helps companies capitalize on new technology, chart new growth and stay competitive.
• Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry (MAFSI) - Voice of the foodservice equipment, supply and furnishings manufacturers’ agent.
• Restaurant & Institutions - This magazine reports menu and business trends in commercial and noncommercial restaurants.
• Society for Foodservice Management - National association serving the needs and interests of executives in the onsite foodservice industry.

Commercial – Restaurants

• American Culinary Federation - Promotes the professional image of American chefs.
• Food Franchise.com - The online resource for fast food, quick service and takeout restaurant franchises.
• National Restaurant Association - The leading business association for the restaurant industry.
• Nation’s Restaurant News - A commercial publication covering the U.S. restaurant industry.
• QSR Online - This magazine covers the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry. The Web site includes a list of the top 50 QSRs.
• Restaurant Business - This magazine serves owners and operators of commercial foodservice locations.

Noncommercial – School Foodservice, Hotels, Institutions

• American School Food Service Association - This professional, nonprofit association is devoted exclusively to protecting and enhancing children’s health and well being through school meals and sound nutrition education.
• American Society of Healthcare Food Service Administrators - This organization is the source of professional education and information for food and nutrition service management professionals.
• The Center for Hospitality Research, Cornell University.
• Farm to School, Occidental College - This program helps link local food sources to schools. 
• Food Management - This publication provides ideas and food trends for those in the noncommercial foodservice industry.
• Hotel Online - A Web site devoted to hospitality and hotel industry information.
• Institute of Hospitality, formerly the Hotel and Catering International Management Association.
• International Hotel and Restaurant Association - A global network of independent and chain operators, national associations, hospitality suppliers and educational centers in the hotel and restaurant industry.
• National Association of College and University Food Services - This is the trade association for foodservice professionals at higher education institutions located in the United States, Canada and abroad.
• National Society of Healthcare Food Service Management - Serving independent senior non-contract healthcare foodservice management professionals and their suppliers.

Foodservice/Retail Trends

• AgMRC-Developed Information
  • Food Industry Trade Shows, Ag Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University - Complete listing of national and international food trade shows to attend and/or showcase new food products to retailers and foodservice industry contacts.
    
• Other Information
  • Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services, U.S. Census Bureau.
  • Fast Casual, Fast Casual.com - Ideas and trends for the fast casual restaurant. This site has a Top 100 section for different restaurant segments.
  • Food Ingredients First - A portal for unique content on food and beverage development.
  • Food Spending in American Households, 2003-04, ERS, USDA, 2007 - This study reviews at-home and away-from-home food spending by U.S. urban households.
  • GMA 2008 Logistics Survey, Improving efficiency in the face of mounting logistics costs. Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) Logistics Study.
  • Grocery Retailer Behavior in the Procurement and Sale of Perishable Fresh Produce Commodities, ERS, USDA - This study looks at retailer pricing behavior for selected produce items.
  • How Big is the Local Foods Appetite? Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, 2009 - A Minnesota survey lists challenges for farmers wishing to supply food to foodservice. 
  • Menu Trends for 2010, National Restaurant Association.
  • U.S. Fresh Produce Markets: Marketing Channels, Trade Practices and Retail Pricing Behavior, ERS, USDA, 2003 - This report examines how changes in the produce market affect market influence of producers, retailers and consumers.
• Links to Other Sites
  • Institute for Grocery Distribution - This organization provides research and information for the food industry in the United Kingdom and international. It offers publications and research reports and retail and consumer trends for a fee.
  • Progressive Grocer - This publication covers the food retailing industry. It reports daily news on the homepage.
  • Retail Forward - This global market research and management consulting firm is making its retail trends report available at this Web site.

Links checked January 2010.