Foodservice Equipment Sales See Largest Gain in 18 Months

 
The foodservice equipment and supplies industry saw its largest growth in 18 months during the second quarter of 2025, according to the latest Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry (MAFSI) Business Barometer.

Overall sales were up 1.6 percent for the quarter, a modest improvement over the flat or negative growth experienced for the last six quarters. Further improvement is expected, with MAFSI now projecting a 2.7 percent growth for Q3 2025. Still, the association warned that the disruptive effect of higher tariff rates on the foodservice industry has not yet been fully realized, making it nearly impossible to forecast the market's direction.

Sluggish growth appears to be the best-case scenario, MAFSI noted. The rise in sales seems to correspond closely to changes in the number of construction projects, which rose 1.9 percent (1,895 total) in Q1 and Q2 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

By category, equipment saw the largest gains at 1.7 percent. Furniture was close behind with 1.6 percent growth while supplies fell by 0.7 percent. The Northeast saw a 2.9 percent increase in sales, followed by the West (2.7 percent), Midwest (2 percent), South (1.1 percent), and Canada (-0.6 percent).

The full Q2 2025 MAFSI Business Barometer is available here.