722514 Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets

Official definition

This U.S. industry comprises establishments, known as cafeterias, grill buffets, or buffets, primarily engaged in preparing and serving meals for immediate consumption using cafeteria-style or buffet serving equipment, such as steam tables, refrigerated areas, display grills, and self-service nonalcoholic beverage dispensing equipment. Patrons select from food and drink items on display in a continuous cafeteria line or from buffet stations.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

• Providing food services to patrons who order and are served while seated and pay after eating are classified in U.S. Industry 722511, Full-Service Restaurants.
• Providing food services where patrons generally order or select items and pay before eating, other than mobile food services, cafeterias, grill buffets, buffets, and snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars are classified in U.S. Industry 722513, Limited-Service Restaurants.
• Selling a specialty snack (e.g., ice cream, frozen yogurt, cookies, popcorn) or nonalcoholic beverage, except from mobile vehicles, for consumption on or near the premises are classified in U.S. Industry 722515, Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Activities listed under 722514

The Census index assigns these 2 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

• Buffet eating places
• Cafeterias

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 722514

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 722514, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed $34 million in average annual receipts. Check your business.

Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.

Closest UK SIC 2007 codes

There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 5610), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.

• 56101Licensed restaurantsUK SIC
• 56102Unlicensed restaurants and cafesUK SIC
• 56103Take-away food shops and mobile food standsUK SIC

Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.

Similar codes to compare

• 722511Full-Service Restaurants
• 722513Limited-Service Restaurants
• 722515Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars