No.4183
Meal Service Market in Japan: Key Research Findings 2026
Meal Service Market Estimated at Over 5 Trillion Yen in FY2025
Yano Research Institute (the President, Takashi Mizukoshi) has surveyed the domestic meal service market and has found out the trend by each of six segments, trend of market players, and future perspectives.
Market Overview
The meal service market (total of six segments: office on-site cooking service, bento delivery service, meal service for hospitals, meal service for elderly care facilities, school meals, and kindergarten/childcare center meals) has risen to 5,049,900 million yen in FY2025, up 2.5% year-over-year (based on the end-user sales). Despite a sharp drop due to the pandemic, the market has been on a growth trajectory since FY2021, driven by recovering demand. Furthermore, rising contract prices, reflecting recent inflationary pressures, have provided additional momentum for market growth.
Noteworthy Topics
Expansion of Meal Benefits Programs
Effective April 1, 2026, the income tax exemption limit for employer-provided meals was raised for the first time in 42 years.
Against a backdrop of persistent inflation, companies are placing greater emphasis on meal benefits (food stipends) as part of their employee welfare programs. Unlike cash raises that increase tax and social insurance burdens, in-kind meal benefits can qualify for tax exemption. Furthermore, investing in company cafeterias supports talent acquisition and retention while fostering employee wellness. As a result, meal benefit programs are gaining attention as an effective measure for advancing Health and Productivity Management initiatives.
Future Outlook
The meal service market is projected to reach 5,477,100 million yen by FY2030, which is up by 8.5% of the FY2025 levels.
Comparing market sizes by segment between FY2025 and FY2030, growth is projected for office on-site cooking service, meal service for elderly care facilities, and school meals. Conversely, hospital meal services, bento delivery, and kindergarten/childcare center meal services are expected to decline. In terms of market composition, meal services for the elderly are likely to become the second-largest segment, while school meals are forecast to surpass bento delivery service.
Research Outline
2.Research Object： Meal service providers
3.Research Methogology： Face-to-face interviews (including online) by expert researchers, survey via telephone, and literature research
The Meal Service Market
The meal service market in this research indicates the total sales of the following six segments: 1) Office on-site cooking service; 2) Bento (assorted-plate meal) delivery service to office/home (the total sales of office-delivered bento and home-delivered dishes); 3) Meal service for hospitals; 4) Meal service for elderly care facilities (special nursing home for elderly, geriatric health services facilities, and retirement homes); 5) School meals (lunches provided at schools under School Lunch Act, including elementary schools, junior high (secondary) schools, high schools, night schools and schools for children with special needs); and 6) Kindergarten/childcare center meals.
The meal services for hospitals and elderly care facilities include the meals for doctors and staff members as well as for inpatients and persons admitted.
＜Products and Services in the Market＞
Meal services (office on-site cooking service, bento delivery service to office/home, meal service for hospitals, meal service for elderly care facilities, school meals, and kindergarten/childcare center meals)
Published Report
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