NAICS 624210 Quarterly Industry Report
Community Food Services
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 624210Sector: Health Care and Social Assistance (62)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Community Food Services (NAICS 624210) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[6], USDA Food and Nutrition Service[7], Bureau of Labor Statistics[9], and SBA size standards database[8]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, food security analysts, and charitable sector investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the community food services industry.
NAICS Sector
62
Health Care and Social Assistance
Industry Definition & Overview
Community Food Services (NAICS 624210) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in the collection, preparation, and delivery of food for the needy per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Covered activities include meal delivery programs for persons unable to prepare meals due to age, disability, or illness; food bank collection and distribution of salvageable or donated food; and preparation of meals at fixed or mobile locations including soup kitchens and community meal sites. Establishments may also distribute clothing and blankets to the poor alongside food assistance.
Roughly 2,213 businesses employ 42,492 workers per Census Bureau[6] economic survey data, though the industry relies heavily on volunteer labor with many food banks and meal programs operating at multiples of their paid staff capacity through volunteers. Feeding America coordinates the nation's largest food bank network with over 200 member food banks and 60,000 partner agencies serving 46 million people annually. Meals on Wheels America operates a national network delivering meals to homebound seniors. The USDA Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) provides commodity foods and administrative funding through state distributing agencies per USDA Food and Nutrition Service[7] program data.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[8], the size standard is $19.5 million in average annual receipts. Food safety regulations including health department licensing, food handler certification, and proper storage and handling protocols apply to all meal preparation and distribution operations. The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) administered by USDA FNS[7] reimburses qualifying meal programs serving elderly and disabled adults. Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act provides federal liability protection for food donors contributing in good faith to nonprofit organizations. IRS Section 170(e)(3) allows qualifying corporate food donors to claim an improve tax deduction for food inventory donations exceeding the standard cost basis.
What's Included in This Industry
- Food bank collection, warehousing, and distribution operations
- Soup kitchen meal preparation and fixed-site dining programs
- Home-delivered meal programs (Meals on Wheels)
- Mobile food pantry and food truck distribution
- Emergency food box and grocery package distribution
- USDA commodity food storage and distribution
- Community garden and food production programs
- Food rescue and salvageable food collection services
- Congregate meal site operations at community centers
- Nutritional screening and food assistance referral coordination
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Health Care and Social Assistance | 62 |
| Subsector | Social Assistance | 624 |
| Industry Group | Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | 6242 |
| NAICS Industry | Community Food Services | 62421 |
| National Industry | Community Food Services | 624210 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 624221 | Temporary Shelters | Temporary Shelters operate meal programs alongside emergency housing services, with shelter-based kitchens feeding residents and walk-in guests while food banks and soup kitchens in this classification provide supplemental food assistance to shelter clients and homeless individuals |
| 624120 | Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities coordinate congregate meal programs and Meals on Wheels delivery that represent key food assistance channels for homebound seniors, with Area Agency on Aging-funded nutrition programs bridging elderly services and community food distribution |
| 624190 | Other Individual and Family Services | Other Individual and Family Services operate emergency financial assistance and referral programs that connect food-insecure families to food bank and meal program resources in this classification, with social service case managers coordinating food assistance as part of broader family stabilization support |
| 624230 | Emergency and Other Relief Services | Emergency and Other Relief Services distribute food during natural disasters and community emergencies, with disaster feeding operations drawing on food bank warehouse inventory and volunteer networks established by community food service organizations during non-emergency periods |
| 311811 | Retail Bakeries | Retail Bakeries and food manufacturers donate surplus product to food banks and food rescue programs in this classification, with the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act providing liability protection that encourages food industry donations to nonprofit distribution organizations |
| 493110 | General Warehousing and Storage | General Warehousing and Storage provides cold chain and dry storage capacity that food banks in this classification require for large-scale food collection and distribution, with warehouse operations representing the largest capital and operating expense for regional food bank networks |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 8.5% | 443 |
| 2 | Texas | 7.1% | 368 |
| 3 | New York | 5.1% | 266 |
| 4 | Minnesota | 3.9% | 204 |
| 5 | Kansas | 3.8% | 198 |
| 6 | Florida | 3.7% | 194 |
| 7 | Ohio | 3.7% | 191 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 3.6% | 188 |
| 9 | Washington | 3.4% | 177 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 3.1% | 163 |
% Of Establishments
0%
9%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
40
Total SBA Loans
$8.0M
Total Loan Volume
$199K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
11.20%
Average Interest Rate
416
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[8], Community Food Services (NAICS 624210) has a size standard of $19.5 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[10] support warehouse acquisition, cold chain equipment, and distribution infrastructure for qualifying food service organizations. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[12] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Home Bank, National Association | 8 | $4.1M | $510K |
| 2 | Carolina Community Impact, Inc. | 8 | $1.6M | $195K |
| 3 | Celtic Bank Corporation | 8 | $1.2M | $150K |
| 4 | Northeast Bank | 16 | $1.1M | $70K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for food banks and soup kitchens?
NAICS 624210 covers community food services including food banks, soup kitchens, Meals on Wheels, and mobile food distribution per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
What is the SBA size standard for community food services?
The SBA size standard[8] is $19.5 million in average annual receipts, determining eligibility for federal small business contracting programs and SBA lending products.
How large is the Feeding America network?
Feeding America coordinates over 200 member food banks and 60,000 partner agencies serving 46 million people annually per network reporting data, with member food banks operating regional warehouse and distribution operations across every state and territory.
What is the USDA Emergency Food Assistance Program?
TEFAP provides commodity foods and administrative funding through state distributing agencies per USDA Food and Nutrition Service[7] program guidelines, with USDA purchasing surplus agricultural commodities for distribution through food banks and direct distribution sites.
What liability protection exists for food donors?
The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act provides federal liability protection for food donors contributing in good faith to nonprofit organizations per USDA[7] guidance, protecting donors and food recovery organizations from civil and criminal liability when donated food later causes harm.
How does the food bank industry use volunteers?
The industry relies heavily on volunteer labor, with many food banks operating at multiples of their paid workforce capacity per Bureau of Labor Statistics[9] employment data, as food sorting, packing, and distribution activities draw large numbers of individual and corporate volunteer groups.
What food safety regulations apply?
Health department licensing, food handler certification, and proper storage and handling protocols apply to all meal preparation and distribution operations per state and local health department requirements, with additional USDA standards governing handling of federal commodity foods distributed through TEFAP.
What tax benefits exist for corporate food donations?
IRS Section 170(e)(3) allows qualifying corporate food donors to claim an improve tax deduction exceeding the standard cost basis for food inventory donations per IRS[13] charitable contribution guidance, providing a financial incentive for food manufacturers and retailers to donate surplus product.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [7]USDA Food and Nutrition Service fns.usda.gov
- [8]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [9]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [10]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]504 loans sba.gov
- [13]IRS irs.gov
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