Foodservice outlets are facilities that serve meals and snacks for immediate consumption onsite (food away from home). Commercial foodservice establishments accounted for the bulk of food-away-from-home expenditures. This category includes full-service restaurants, limited-service outlets, caterers, some cafeterias, and other places that prepare, serve, and sell food to the general public for a profit.

USDA, Economic Research Service examines:

• the size of the growing foodservice market;
• the major market segments, such as limited-service and full-service outlets; and
• the foodservice market at the State level.