At a Glance: Office Pantry Benchmarks

Q1 2025 marked a significant rise in pantry investment, reflecting a clear shift in how companies are approaching the return to office. With new in-office mandates rolling out across industries, leading employers are using pantry programs to smooth the transition, creating reliable, high-touch moments that drive attendance, reinforce culture, and support daily performance.

• The average company spent $64,610 in Q1, which comes out to $21,537/month
• The average office spent $24,076 in Q1, an average of $8,025/month.
• March was the month with the highest spending of the quarter, with a month-over-month increase of 12%.

What it means: Companies are investing in food and beverages to create a workplace that delivers real value to employees. In a time when flexibility is expected and attendance must be earned, the pantry is proving to be one of the most effective tools for boosting engagement, reducing friction, and making the office worth the commute.

Where It's Happening: City Benchmarks

While spending is growing overall, some cities are leading the way in pantry investment per office.

City-level benchmarks across Crafty's top three markets: 

It's no surprise that Crafty's top three markets, Chicago, New York, and the Bay Area, are renowned for cultivating premier office experiences. In these dense urban centers, where the cost of living is high and daily expenses add up fast, food and beverage programs help ease that burden. This is a major part of why these cities have long been at the forefront of workplace innovation, emphasizing the power of the pantry to make the office feel like a value-add, not just a requirement.

As we look to the future, some of our fastest-growing markets might come as a surprise. Cities in Texas and Florida are experiencing significant growth. In these suburban and fast-expanding metros, pantry programs are playing a different but equally important role: making the office more convenient and reducing the need to leave the building or drive for midday essentials. 

Fastest-Growing Markets: 

• Austin
• Dallas-Fort Worth Area
• Los Angeles
• Houston 
• Orlando
• Miami

This surge aligns with broader migration trends, as both states have become magnets for businesses and talent alike. According to a report by the Florida Chamber Foundation, Florida welcomed over 500 net new business relocations in the past year, leading the nation in this metric. Similarly, Texas has seen a substantial influx of companies, with over 177 businesses relocating to the state between 2020 and January 2025

What it means: If you want employees back in the office, then you need to make the office worth coming to. What that looks like varies by city. In suburban markets, it may be about making things more convenient so employees don’t have to leave the building or drive for their snacks. In dense city centers, it’s often about easing the cost of living by offsetting the everyday small costs that add up. To get it right, pantry programs need to adapt to the needs of each location, and that starts with having clear visibility into spend at the city level.

Who's Driving the Shift: Industry Benchmarks

In the past, the office pantry was seen as an act of generosity. But high-growth, high-performing companies know better: it’s a driver.

A well-designed pantry attracts top talent, keeps teams engaged, fuels productivity, increases output, and ultimately powers a stronger business. It’s a daily touchpoint that reinforces company values while delivering real value to employees. Employees spend an average of $10 to $30 per office visit on food and beverages. High-impact pantry programs reduce that burden and function as a meaningful component of the total compensation package.

This breakdown shows how different industries are investing and what those decisions say about their workplace strategy.

While each industry and office approaches pantry programming differently, the broader trend is clear: workplaces are prioritizing consistency and routine. Success doesn’t come from constantly introducing new categories, it comes from evolving the ones that already work. When these leading companies want a refresh, they won't ditch the chips. Instead, they will keep a few staples and swap out a low-performing chip for a protein-forward upgrade. The goal is to meet employees where they are with formats that fit their routine and products they get excited about.

Across sectors, we’re seeing this play out with a surge of high-function, low-friction options. These products aren’t chosen at random. They’re the result of intentional planning and consumption-backed behavior.

• Energy is being managed proactively. Cold brew, juices, and functional beverages are seeing triple-digit growth, especially in fast-paced sectors like fintech. 
• Nutrition and wellness are non-negotiable. Categories like bars, yogurt, jerky, and dried fruit are rising fast, particularly in pharmaceuticals and insurance, where health-conscious teams prioritize convenient, nutrient-dense options that align with broader wellness goals.
• Flexibility is everything. Industries like media, marketing, and professional services are leaning into a dependable mix of pantry staples. Rather than rotating through novelty, they’re investing in proven formats that teams return to day after day.
• Consistency beats variety. Industries like media, marketing, and professional services are leaning into a dependable mix of pantry staples. Rather than rotating through novelty, they’re investing in proven formats that teams return to day after day.

What it means: The companies leading in pantry investment aren’t being generous—they’re being strategic. They know that when people are energized, focused, and supported, the business performs better. The key to making that happen is precision. What all of these industries have in common is that they are powered by data. They track what’s consumed, what drives engagement, and what delivers value. The organizations seeing the greatest impact aren’t guessing what works, because they know. When every decision is grounded in insight, the pantry becomes more effective, more valuable, and more of a competitive advantage.

How It Breaks Down: Category Insights

Today’s workplace pantry is a curated system designed to meet real needs throughout the day. The data clearly shows a shift toward balance, reliability, and high-utility options. Companies are moving away from novelty and focusing on the categories that deliver energy, focus, and satisfaction at scale.

Category Allocation (% of total pantry spend):

• Snacks: 35%
• Beverages: 28%
• Perishables: 16%
• Coffee: 13%
• Supplies: 7%
• Alcohol: 1%

Top Subcategories (% of total pantry spend):

• Bars: 9%
• Still & Sparkling Water: 6%
• Sodas: 6%
• Coffee & Beans: 6%
• Kitchen & Dining Supplies: 6%
• Chips & Crackers: 6%
• Sports & Protein Drinks: 5%
• Produce: 5%

What it means: Companies are doubling down on products that build rhythm into the day: bars that fuel meetings, water that keeps teams hydrated, coffee that powers focus, and snacks that support energy without interruption. These choices reflect a bigger priority: creating consistent, dependable experiences that employees can build their day around. In a time when stability drives engagement, pantry programs are becoming the infrastructure behind productive work.

What’s Trending: Growth Areas That Signal a Shift

Employee expectations have evolved, and pantry programs are evolving with them. Whether it’s prioritizing higher protein snacks, seeking out sustainability certifications, or reaching for impact-driven brands, employees are using product selection to signal who they are. What’s rising to the top reflects broader shifts in how people want to live and work.

Top Growing Subcategories in Q1:

• Dried Fruit, Nuts, and Trail Mix: These are nutrient-dense, long-shelf-life snacks that deliver a clean energy boost without the crash.
• Sodas: This surge is driven by functional, low- or zero-sugar options that blend nostalgia with wellness.
• Yogurt & Cheeses: Protein-rich, gut-health-friendly, and increasingly available in single-serve formats, these options meet the rising demand for snacks that double as meals. 
• Cold Brew & Iced Coffee: Cold brew’s growth reflects its portability, low acidity, and role as a consistent morning or mid-afternoon reset. 
• Non-Alcoholic Beer: This category’s rise signals a cultural shift around alcohol, especially in professional settings. NA beer is no longer a placeholder, but a lifestyle choice tied to wellness, inclusion, and social rituals that don’t revolve around drinking.

Macro Trends (YoY Q1 Growth):

• Protein-forward products: +103%
  As GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy become more common, there’s a rising focus on smaller, more strategic eating. Protein helps extend satiety, balance blood sugar, and support lean muscle mass—all critical needs for employees using appetite-regulating medications or following medically-guided nutrition plans. 
• B Corp brands: +86%
  Employees increasingly want to know that the businesses they support are doing good, especially at work, where values and behaviors are expected to align. B Corp certification signals a commitment to social, environmental, and economic accountability. 
• Minority-owned brands: +90%
  Stocking minority-owned brands allows employers to reflect inclusive values in everyday ways. These choices help build trust, demonstrate awareness, and make the pantry a channel for real cultural alignment, not just convenience.

What it means: A static pantry is a failing one. The most successful programs are responsive, data-informed, and tuned into broader shifts in behavior. Employees want to see their values reflected in the breakroom, whether that means boosting protein between meetings or choosing a snack that supports a more equitable supply chain. Optimization doesn’t mean chasing every trend, but knowing which ones matter to your team. When you pair these macro insights with your own consumption data, you can build a pantry that is aligned with your team, your budget, and your industry.

What’s Next: Evolving Your Pantry Strategy

The Q1 2025 data tells a compelling story: the modern office pantry is a cornerstone of how teams experience work. As businesses navigate return-to-office strategies, regional growth, and shifting employee expectations, the pantry has emerged as a critical space where company culture, personal values, and everyday needs intersect. Employees are building routines around the foods that fuel them. They're seeking consistency, not novelty. And they’re paying attention to the social, environmental, and nutritional impact of every bite.

Three Takeaways for Leaders:

• Data Is Your Unlock: The best-performing programs are built on insight. When you understand what’s being consumed, where it’s being consumed, and how it aligns with behavior, you can optimize to create a higher-value experience. 
• Use Values to Build Value: Employees want to see purpose behind what’s offered. Integrating wellness-forward, impact-driven brands into your pantry reinforces your company’s values in a tangible, daily way.
• Take a Practical Approach: Don't overengineer your experience. You don't need to chase trends, but see how the trends work into the rhythm of your employees. This means small upgrades to areas that are already working for you. 

The modern pantry can be one of the most effective tools a workplace has to meet its people where they are and move them toward where the business needs to go. But that's only when it's managed strategically—with real data, clear values, and a deep understanding of what drives both employee behavior and business performance. When those pieces come together, the pantry stops being a perk and starts being an accelerator.