Foodservice furniture is as varied as the industry itself, with chairs and tables for restaurants and cafes, pubs and bars, all kinds of clubs, hotels and banquets.
But despite this, there are some foodservice furniture trends that are likely to encompass a large part of this diverse market in 2017.
First of all there is the classic 'Less is More' trend turned on its head for the new year, as foodservice establishments are facing not a tightening of profit margins, but low availability of talented kitchen staff.
Even entry-level kitchen porter positions are proving difficult to fill, and we have seen some restaurants and gastropubs reduce their breakfast and lunch menus to put their focus on their evening a la carte menu instead.
This actually unlocks good opportunities to make your evening service extra special, even on a reduced kitchen crew, and investing in new foodservice furniture can send the message that you are not 'scaling down' your kitchen operation, but are simply focusing on doing one part of the day even better.
Next up, whatever 2017 brings, a 'Best of British' trend seems likely in those foodservice establishments where it would be appropriate.
Expect a return to traditional furniture types, such as dark hardwood tables and chairs, particularly in older premises where the fabric of the building suits more classic furniture styles.
At the same time, some businesses will want to deliberately stand out from this crowd, and we could equally see an increase in foodservice furniture in more modern styles and materials, or specific overseas designs like American diner furniture.
Finally, we anticipate a 'White, Light and Bright' trend, with pale woods and light-coloured upholstery used to inject some light into foodservice premises.
Of course in practice, many of the materials used in foodservice furniture are not actually pure white, but may be a very pale or lime washed wood, or in fabrics, may incorporate subtle grey fibres for a marl effect.
All of this helps to make them more resistant to dirt and stains, while still being easy to clean without any strong colour to fade or bleach out - making for a minimalist colour scheme that works perfectly with the desire for durable furniture for foodservice establishments in the coming year.