ezCater’s 2026 Workplace Cafeteria Report Reveals Cafeterias Are on the Decline

ezCater, the #1 food tech platform for workplaces in the US, today released its 2026 Workplace Cafeteria Report, uncovering a critical shift in workplace dining. The research reveals that while office attendance is rising, employee use of cafeterias is not. Over half (51%) of organizations have already reduced cafeteria operating hours and 36% of decision-makers who oversee cafeterias say companies should plan to decommission them in favor of alternative solutions – a 39% increase from last year.

“The workplace has fundamentally evolved, and how employers deal with food is following suit,” said Nihad Rahman, CEO of ezCater. “By pivoting to a flexible restaurant-powered model, companies can decrease overhead costs and complexity, increase employee satisfaction, and support local restaurants. Great food is a powerful catalyst for culture, making time spent in the office feel truly worthwhile for every employee.”

The report, which surveyed 602 cafeteria decision-makers and 1,000 on-site employees, reveals climbing costs, fluctuating headcounts, and employees who are increasingly critical of the food are forcing a rethink of the model. Key findings from the report include:

• Operating costs for workplace cafeterias are up: Average operating costs of corporate cafeterias exceed $1M annually and the majority (55%) of organizations expect those costs to increase in 2026. As a result, 51% of leaders admit cafeterias no longer justify the overhead.
• A growing gap in food quality is alienating the workforce: While 87% of leaders rate their workplace cafeteria food as good or excellent, less than half (48%) of employees agree, marking a 12% year-over-year drop in employee satisfaction. This divide, coupled with rising prices, is driving workers away from cafeterias: 29% cite high prices as a primary reason for opting out.
• Hybrid work highlights cafeteria limits: Nearly 7 in 10 leaders in hybrid-work organizations say their food program decisions are influenced by the goal of bringing employees on-site, yet 68% say hybrid schedules make it difficult to operate a cafeteria.
• Restaurant-powered meal programs drive office attendance: Employees prefer food from restaurants, with 76% saying restaurant food is tastier than cafeteria food. Decision-makers are taking note: 80% agree that meals from local restaurants encourage office attendance more effectively than cafeteria fare.
• The future of workplace food is flexibility: 82% of cafeteria decision-makers admit that flexibility is now critical to modern workplace food management. Workplaces are turning to flexible meal programs to boost on-site work, productivity, and culture.

Organizations are already finding success in this shift: NorthPoint Development cut costs by replacing its corporate cafeteria with a flexible ezCater meal program.

“We looked into remodeling the existing cafeteria, but due to cost and overhead, it seemed more logical not to. ezCater saved us from having to renovate the space, hire staff, handle state licensing, and more,” said Melissa Allinder, Director of Operations, NorthPoint Development.

The full findings of The 2026 Workplace Cafeteria Report can be found here. To learn more about how ezCater helps workplaces modernize their food programs, visit www.ezcater.com.

Methodology
These are the results of an online survey conducted in October 2025, among 602 leaders who oversee workplace cafeteria operations and 1,000 full-time US employees who work on-site at least once per week.

About ezCater
ezCater is the #1 food tech platform for workplaces in the US. The company makes it easy for any organization to manage its food needs and order from over 100,000 restaurants nationwide. For workplaces, ezCater provides flexible and scalable solutions for everything from recurring employee meals to one-off meetings, all backed by beyond helpful 24/7 service and business-grade reliability. For restaurant partners, ezCater helps grow their business by bringing them more orders and new high-value customers. To learn more, visit www.ezcater.com.

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