Food away from home market seen reaching $5.9 trillion by 2030

The global food away from home market is projected to hit $5,921 billion by 2030, with travel, entertainment and freestanding dining driving more than $1 trillion in additional growth. Asia Pacific is set to become the largest regional market, while the U.S. remains the biggest single-country market.

Why it matters: - The food away from home market is moving toward $5,921 billion by 2030, making it a major slice of the wider food and beverages industry. - Travel, entertainment, retail and freestanding dining are forecast to add more than $1,089 billion in value between 2025 and 2030. - The shift matters for restaurants, travel operators, food distributors and digital ordering platforms as consumers keep spending more outside the home.

What happened: - The Business Research Company released its Food Away From Home Global Market Report 2026, covering market size, trends and a forecast through 2035. - The market is projected to grow at a 4% compound annual rate through 2030. - Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest regional market by 2030 at $1,817 billion, up from $1,441 billion in 2025. - The United States is expected to remain the largest single-country market at $1,516 billion by 2030, up from $1,276 billion in 2025.

The details: - The food away from home market is expected to represent nearly 64% of the total food and beverages industry by 2030, which is projected at $9,313 billion. - Travel is the largest occasion-based segment and is expected to account for 39% of the market in 2030, equal to $2,304 billion. - Travel-related demand is rising with the recovery of domestic and international tourism, higher passenger traffic in airports and transit hubs, and more branded outlets along travel routes. - Entertainment is expected to add $303 billion in value between 2025 and 2030. - Freestanding dining is expected to add $251 billion over the same period. - Retail occasions are expected to add $93 billion. - The report breaks the market into independent establishments and chain operators. - Delivery models include dine-in, take-away and home delivery. - Applications span restaurants, educational institutions, hotels and motels, retail outlets, vending points and other venues. - The report lists Starbucks Corporation as the top global player in 2024 with a 1% share. - The top 10 companies held just 3% of total revenue in 2024, showing a fragmented market.

Between the lines: - Rising incomes and urbanization are expanding dining-out demand as more consumers can afford frequent meals outside the home. - Busy lifestyles, longer commutes and workforce participation are pushing more people toward quick-service restaurants and ready-made meals. - Digital ordering, mobile apps and integrated payment systems are becoming core growth tools for restaurants. - AI is also moving into restaurant operations; in April 2024, Yum! Brands launched the SuperApp, an AI-driven mobile tool for managers at Pizza Hut and KFC. - The app includes a generative AI chatbot for operational guidance, staff scheduling and supply ordering. - Fragmentation leaves room for brands to compete on convenience, service quality, menu innovation and location-based experiences rather than scale alone.

What's next: - Asia Pacific is expected to keep expanding on the back of urbanization, rising incomes, tourism growth and digital delivery adoption. - U.S. operators are likely to keep investing in customer experience, operational efficiency and menu diversification. - The report says collaborations, menu upgrades and geographic expansion will become more important as demand rises for convenient, value-focused, healthier and tech-enabled dining. - Leading companies are expected to keep using digital ordering, cloud kitchen networks and AI forecasting tools to manage inventory and costs.

The bottom line: - Food away from home is shifting from a convenience category to a high-growth, tech-enabled global dining market, with travel and urban lifestyles doing most of the heavy lifting.