Stricter return-to-office policies are boosting growth for caterers

Tighter in-office mandates and the high cost of eating out are driving more workers to corporate cafeterias, where upgraded amenities and better food are used to lure staff back.

That’s boosting volumes and growth prospects for caterers, including Aramark, Compass Group Plc and Sodexo SA. Higher traffic can lift organic growth by as much as 1% in the next 12 months, Bloomberg Intelligence data shows.

“The return-to-office trend may still have room to run, potentially offering further volume upside for contract-catering providers,” Bloomberg Intelligence senior analysts Stuart Gordon and Evgeniy Batchvarov said. Paired with new contracts and pricing gains, that momentum may prompt analysts to raise estimates.

In major hubs including New York, London and Paris, fewer employees expect to w