How A REAL Food Café Program Helped Increase Revenue While Improving Experience and Retention
In a healthcare environment where foodservice is often viewed as a cost center, one California hospital system is showing what’s possible when dining is treated as part of the care experience. Partnering with Thomas Cuisine, Community Health System delivered an 80% increase in café and retail revenue between FY22 and FY25, alongside a steady improvement in café experience, rising from 77.9% to 88.1% over the same period.
Source: Financial and operational performance data provided by Thomas Cuisine and Community Health System internal reporting (FY22–FY25).
Since 2020, Thomas Cuisine and Community Health System have treated the café as part of the hospital experience. The goal has been simple: make REAL food convenient for staff, visitors, and the surrounding community. The growth reflects higher participation rather than price increases, with more people choosing the café instead of leaving campus for offsite fast food. As café participation rises, that retail revenue stays within the hospital system to help offset foodservice operating costs and sustain a stronger dining program for everyone on campus.
The difference showed up in patient and caregiver feedback as well. One parent wrote on Facebook:
“My youngest was in the NICU there for several weeks and the only upside to that was the food! Hands down the best hospital food and I’ve given birth at 3 different hospitals and visited several more.”
The partnership also prioritized workforce stability in a space known for churn. While annual turnover in the foodservice industry can reach 150%, Thomas Cuisine’s team supporting Community Health System reported only 24% annual turnover in FY25, with monthly turnover holding steady at 2–3% from June through November 2025.
“We’re proud of the partnership we’ve built with Community Health System,” said Alison Patt, President and CEO of Thomas Cuisine. “When you align on standards and stay focused on the people you serve, participation grows and the program becomes stronger for everyone on campus.”
As Thomas Cuisine expands across California, the Community Health System partnership offers a clear example of the impact hospitals can achieve when food is treated with the same intention as care.
Food Service for Hospitals in California
At Thomas Cuisine, serving California hospitals means understanding the unique needs of healthcare environments across the state, from urban medical centers to regional hospital systems. Our approach to hospital foodservice in California is rooted in REAL Food, operational partnership, and long‑term sustainability. By treating food as part of the care experience, we help hospitals strengthen participation, improve café and retail performance, and support staff, patients, and visitors with food they can feel good about. As healthcare organizations across California look for foodservice partners who deliver both performance and experience, we remain focused on building programs that work for the people they serve and the communities they support.
