Guides -- Restaurant & Catering Industry
This guide is intended to serve as a starting point for research about the restaurant and catering industry, for additional resources or information please contact the business librarians.
Topics included in this guide:
Catering definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing single event-based food services. These establishments generally have equipment and vehicles to transport meals and snacks to events and/or prepare food at an off-premise site. Banquet halls with catering staff are included in this industry. Examples of events catered by establishments in this industry are graduation parties, wedding receptions, business or retirement luncheons, and trade shows.
(Source: US Census Bureau)
Restaurant or Foodservice definition
Industries in the Food Services and Drinking Places subsector prepare
meals, snacks, and beverages to customer order for immediate on-premises
and off-premises consumption. There is a wide range of establishments
in these industries. Some provide food and drink only; while others
provide various combinations of seating space, waiter/waitress services
and incidental amenities, such as limited entertainment. The industries
in the subsector are grouped based on the type and level of services
provided. The industry groups are full-service restaurants; limited-service
eating places; special food services, such as food service contractors,
caterers, and mobile food services; and drinking places.
(Source: US
Census Bureau)
