About Food

The provision of food and beverages away from home forms a substantial part of the activities of the hospitality industry and, indeed, of the economy as a whole. Like the industry of which it is a major part, food and beverage operations are characterized by their diversity. Outlets include private and public sector establishments and range from small independently owned and operated units to large multi-national corporations managing global brands and from prison catering to catering in the most luxurious hotels in the world. It is however very difficult to get hold of consistent statistics about the hospitality industry and about food and beverage operations as there is no one single definition of what the boundaries of the various industry sectors and sub sectors are and therefore what should and should not be included.