Foodservice equipment and supplies sales for the third quarter declined 1.5 percent compared to the same period in 2009, according to data released by the Manufacturers’ Agents for the Foodservice Industry. This marked the 11th consecutive quarter of contraction. While industry sales remain in a decline, this marked an improvement over the previous four quarters which had experienced declines of 3.3 percent, 5.3 percent, 12.8 percent and 11.5 percent.

Geographically, sales in the west declined 6.1 percent, 2.1 percent in the midwest, and 0.3 percent in the northeast. The Canadian and southern regions reported sales increases of 0.3 percent and 1.6 percent respectively.

By product category, equipment sales were down 2.1 percent and furnishings declined 0.6 percent. Sales of tabletop and supply items increased by 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent.