268
Colorado catering establishments
The U.S. Census Bureau counted 268 Colorado establishments in NAICS 722320, Caterers, in 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns, ColoradoReference data
Colorado catering and barbecue statistics.
A regularly maintained collection of citable facts for event planners, writers, hospitality professionals, and anyone following the catering business.
Last updated September 9, 2026
What this covers
A clearer look at
the catering table.
This page brings together the most recent figures available in the cited public data releases. The catering figures below are from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns release. The food availability figures are from the USDA's 2021 per-person series, the latest year in the linked files.
Every statistic has its own permanent page anchor and source link, so readers can quote a specific figure without losing the original context.
Colorado and U.S. data
Key figures
2,780
People employed by Colorado caterers
Colorado establishments classified as caterers reported 2,780 employees in 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns, Colorado$100.3M
Annual payroll reported by Colorado caterers
Colorado caterers reported $100.305 million in annual payroll during 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns, Colorado57%
Colorado caterers with fewer than five employees
153 of Colorado's 268 catering establishments had fewer than five employees in 2023, which is about 57%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns, Colorado13,222
Catering establishments in the United States
The U.S. Census Bureau counted 13,222 U.S. establishments in NAICS 722320, Caterers, in 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns, United States148,684
People employed by U.S. caterers
U.S. establishments classified as caterers reported 148,684 employees in 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns, United States$4.59B
Annual payroll reported by U.S. caterers
U.S. caterers reported $4.590 billion in annual payroll during 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns, United States56.2 lb
Boneless beef available per person
USDA's food availability series reports 56.18 pounds of boneless beef per person in the United States for 2021.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Availability data, 202147.5 lb
Boneless pork available per person
USDA's food availability series reports 47.50 pounds of boneless pork per person in the United States for 2021.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Availability data, 202167.3 lb
Boneless young chicken available per person
USDA's food availability series reports 67.27 pounds of boneless young chicken per person in the United States for 2021.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Availability data, 2021Method and sources
How these numbers
were selected.
The catering data uses NAICS 722320, the U.S. Census Bureau's industry classification for Caterers. “Establishments” are business locations, not brands. Payroll figures are reported in thousands of dollars in the source file and shown here in dollars for easier reading.
The USDA figures describe food availability, not the amount every person actually ate. They are useful for a broad view of the U.S. meat supply, not as a serving-size recommendation for one event.
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2023 County Business Patterns, Colorado state file
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2023 County Business Patterns, U.S. file
- USDA Economic Research Service: red meat food availability data
- USDA Economic Research Service: poultry food availability data
Cite this page
Papaw's Texas Barbecue. “Colorado Catering and Barbecue Statistics.” Updated September 9, 2026.
Link to this reference pagePlanning a table of your own?
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