Commercial Catering Equipment Market Report UK 2026-2030
The 6th edition of the Commercial Catering Equipment Market Report represents an up-to-date and comprehensive review of the commercial catering equipment market, analysing current trends by product sector and includes commentary on market prospects and implications for manufacturers and the industry as a whole.
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This report is a comprehensive review of the UK commercial catering equipment market and assesses developments across the market as a whole and the individual sectors. Aspects examined include market size, trends and influences, market prospects, major suppliers, and key distribution channels. It contains historical data for the 2021-2025 period and provides forecasts to 2030.
Catering equipment covers the major appliances and units that form part of the main infrastructure of a commercial kitchen. Our market definition excludes small food preparation appliances and portable products, with the exception of commercial microwave ovens.
Market Size
The UK commercial catering equipment market is valued at close to £990 million in 2025, with expectations of sustained, albeit moderate, growth in the coming years. This market is considered mature, with high levels of equipment penetration. As a result, its performance tends to closely align with the overall economy.
Market trends and influences
The performance of the UK commercial catering equipment market is increasingly
influenced by changing market dynamics. Key factors include:
- Shifting consumer preferences in food service (increased demand for convenience, experience, healthier food options, focus on sustainability, etc.)
- Cost management is a primary concern for most foodservice businesses amid rising operational costs, pushing operators towards energy-efficient, space-saving, and multi-functional equipment.
- Increase in the use of automation and robotics in commercial kitchens.
- Advancements in catering equipment technology, including the increasing adoption of smart technology, are boosting efficiency, consistency and enabling more streamlined operations. Smart features include real-time monitoring, app-based control, cloud-based recipe management and predictive maintenance.
- A heightened focus on sustainability is also a key driver of innovation, product development, and market differentiation.
- Higher safety and hygiene standards.
Product Categories
Product sectors covered include:
- Cooking equipment
- Refrigeration
- Steel fabrication
- Warewashing equipment
- Ventilation and ducting systems
- Grease traps
Companies mentioned
There are many commercial catering equipment suppliers and distributors mentioned in the report. Key companies include:
Suppliers
- AFE Group
- ITW Group
- Rational UK
- Welbilt UK
- Electrolux Professional
- Winterhalter
- Lincat
- Blue Seal
Distributors
- Nisbets
- Lockhart Catering Equipment
- Alliance Disposables
- Brakes Catering Equipment
Forecast
At the start of 2026, economic conditions in the UK remain weak, and the high cost of living continues to influence consumer spending patterns. These factors are presenting significant challenges for the foodservice industry and, as a result, are affecting the UK market for commercial catering equipment.
The longer-term prospects for the commercial catering equipment market remain positive, though some types of foodservice will prosper more than others. Thus, suppliers must be able to adapt to shifting demands in different sectors. Overall, the market is expected to show sustained, moderate growth in the five years to 2030.
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Context
1.2 Definition
1.3 Abbreviations
2 MARKET SUMMARY
2.1 Market size (value)
2.2 Market overview
2.3 Imports and exports
2.4 Market mix by product category
3 MARKET INFLUENCES AND DRIVERS
3.1 Main market influences and drivers
3.2 Political influences and drivers
3.3 Economic influences and drivers
3.4 Social influences and drivers
3.5 Technological influences and drivers
3.6 Legal influences and drivers
3.7 Environmental influences and drivers
4 END USE SECTORS
4.1 End use sector mix
4.2 Non-residential construction
4.2.1 Entertainment and leisure construction
4.2.2 Education construction
4.2.3 Health construction
4.3 Eating places
4.3.1 Unlicensed restaurants
4.3.2 Cafes and coffee shops
4.3.3 Pubs and bars
4.3.4 Licensed restaurants
4.4 At-home delivery and dark kitchens
4.5 Takeaways
4.6 Educational catering facilities
4.7 Healthcare catering facilities
4.8 Hotel catering facilities
4.9 Other catering facilities
5 MARKET SUB SECTORS
5.1 Cooking equipment – market size (value)
5.1.1 Cooking equipment – UK production
5.1.2 Cooking equipment – market mix by product category
5.1.3 Cooking equipment – market overview
5.1.4 Cooking equipment – suppliers / key players
5.1.5 Cooking equipment – company profiles
5.2 Refrigeration – market size (value)
5.2.1 Refrigeration – UK production
5.2.2 Refrigeration – market mix by product category
5.2.3 Refrigeration – market overview
5.2.4 Refrigeration – suppliers / key players
5.2.5 Refrigeration – company profiles
5.3 Steel fabrication – market size (value)
5.3.1 Steel fabrication – market overview
5.3.2 Steel fabrication – suppliers / key players
5.3.3 Steel fabrication – company profiles
5.4 Warewashing equipment – market size (value)
5.4.1 Warewashing equipment – UK production
5.4.2 Warewashing equipment– market mix by product category
5.4.3 Warewashing equipment – market overview
5.4.4 Warewashing equipment – suppliers / key players
5.4.5 Warewashing equipment – company profiles
5.5 Ventilation and ducting – market size (value)
5.5.1 Ventilation and ducting – market overview
5.5.2 Ventilation and ducting – suppliers / key players
5.5.3 Ventilation and ducting – company profiles
5.6 Grease traps – market size (value)
5.6.1 Grease traps – market overview
5.6.2 Grease traps – suppliers / key players
5.6.3 Grease traps – company profiles
6 DISTRIBUTION
6.1 Market map
6.2 Channel shares by supplier
6.3 Key company profiles
6.3.1 Super distributors
6.3.2 Specialist distributors
6.3.3 Designers and installers
6.3.4 Contract caterers
7 MARKET FORECAST
7.1 Ten-year market view 2021 – 2030
7.2 Market prospects and influences
8 INNOVATION
9 SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Chart 1: UK Commercial Catering Equipment Market by Value 2021 – 2026 (£m at MSP)
Table 2: Commercial Catering Equipment Suppliers Market Shares 2025 (% share by value)
Table 3: Imports and exports of commercial cooking equipment 2021 – 2025 (£m)
Table 4: Imports and exports of commercial refrigeration furniture 2021 – 2025 (£m)
Table 5: Imports and exports of commercial freezers 2021 – 2025 (£m)
Table 6: Imports and exports of other commercial refrigerating and freezing equipment 2021 – 2025 (£m)
Table 7: Imports and exports of commercial dishwashing machines 2021 – 2025 (£m)
Chart 8: UK Commercial Catering Equipment Market Mix, by Product Category, 2025 (% share by value)
Table 9: UK Commercial Catering Equipment Market by Product Category 2025 (£m at MSP)
Table 10: UK Commercial Catering Equipment Market PESTLE Summary 2026
Table 11: Medium Term Economic Forecasts 2025 – 2029 (published November 2025)
Chart 12: UK Commercial Catering Equipment Market Mix by End Use Sector 2025 (% share by value)
Chart 13: UK Commercial Catering Equipment Market Mix by Type of Establishment 2025 (% share by number of establishments)
Chart 14: Non-Residential Construction Output 2021 – 2030 (£bn at current prices)
Chart 15: Non-Residential New Work Output by Sector 2025 and 2030 (% by Value)
Chart 16: Value of Construction Output in the Entertainment & Leisure Sector (£bn at current prices) 2022 – 2030
Chart 17: Value of Construction Output in the Education Sector (£bn at current prices) 2022 – 2030
Chart 18: Value of Construction Output in the Health Sector (£bn at current prices) 2022 – 2030
Table 19: UK Eating Places by Category 2021 – 2025
Chart 20: UK Pubs and Bars Ownership Mix 2025 (% Share by Volume)
Chart 21: Number of UK Licensed Restaurants 2016 – 2025
Chart 22: Number of UK Takeaways and Mobile Food Stands 2016 – 2025
Chart 23: Number of In-Patient Main Meals Requested in England 2016 – 2025 (million)
Chart 24: UK Hotel Sector Indicative Mix by Grading 2025 (% of Bedrooms)
Chart 25: UK Market for Commercial Catering Cooking Equipment by Value 2021 – 2026 (£m at MSP)
Chart 26: UK Production of Commercial Cooking Equipment (SIC 28931580) by Value and Volume 2014 – 2024
Chart 27: Cooking Equipment Market Mix by Product Category 2025 (% share by volume)
Table 28: Rational UK Ltd
Table 29: Welbilt UK Ltd
Table 30: Lincat Ltd
Table 31: Blue Seal Ltd
Table 32: Electrolux Professional Ltd
Chart 33: UK Market for Commercial Catering Refrigeration by Value 2021 – 2026 (£m at MSP)
Chart 34: UK Production of Refrigeration (SIC 28251360) by Value and Volume 2014 – 2024
Chart 35: Refrigeration Market Mix by Product Category 2025 (% share by volume)
Table 36: AFE Group Ltd
Table 37: Tefcold UK Ltd
Table 38: True Refrigeration UK Ltd
Chart 39: UK Market for Commercial Catering Steel Fabrication by Value 2021 – 2026 (£m at MSP)
Table 40: CED Fabrications Ltd
Chart 41: UK Market for Commercial Catering Warewashing Equipment by Value 2021 – 2026 (£m at MSP)
Chart 42: UK Production of Warewashing Equipment (SIC 28295000) by Value and Volume 2014 – 2024
Chart 43: Warewashing Equipment Market Mix by Product Category 2025 (% share by volume)
Table 44: Winterhalter Ltd
Table 45: Classeq Ltd
Table 46: Meiko UK Ltd
Chart 47: UK Market for Commercial Catering Ventilation and Ducting by Value 2021 – 2026 (£m at MSP)
Table 48: Halton Foodservice Ltd
Table 49: Chapman Ventilation Ltd
Chart 50: UK Market for Commercial Catering Grease Traps by Value 2021 – 2026 (£m at MSP)
Table 51: ACO Technologies Plc (UK) Ltd
Chart 52: Distribution Structure for Commercial Catering Equipment
Chart 53: Commercial Catering Equipment Distribution by Channel 2025 (% share by value)
Table 54: Nisbets Ltd
Table 55: Bunzl UK Ltd
Table 56: Alliance Disposables Ltd
Table 57: Sysco GB Ltd (formerly Brake Bros Ltd)
Table 58: Foodservice Equipment Marketing Ltd
Table 59: Middleby UK Ltd
Table 60: Pentland Wholesale Ltd
Table 61: RH Hall (Microwave) Ltd
Table 62: UK Commercial Catering Equipment Market by Value 2021 – 2030 (£m at MSP)
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Commercial Catering Equipment Market Report UK 2026-2030
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