The textile rental market in Western Europe recorded impressive growth in 2023, which will continue in 2024. Thanks to a strong recovery in the hotel and gastronomy sector, the total market volume increased from 11.9 billion euros to 13.2 billion euros, an increase of 10.9%. Robust growth of 4.3% is expected for 2024, as a study by Interconnection Consulting shows.

Hospitality Services as Main Driver

The demand for textile rental services, particularly in the areas of bed linen, table linen and work clothing, has increased sharply. This development is largely due to the recovery of the tourism industry and the revival of hotels and restaurants after the pandemic-related restrictions. In 2023, the hotel and gastronomy market segment recorded strong growth of 18.2% compared to 2022, increasing the market volume to 3.5 billion euros. Further growth to almost 3.7 billion euros is forecast for 2024. What is particularly noteworthy is that countries such as France, Spain, Portugal and Great Britain, which were hardest hit by the pandemic, are contributing significantly to the growth in the hotel and gastronomy segment. Compared to Germany (21.5%), the share of the hotel & gastronomy segment in Spain is 55.5% and in France it is around 30%. The study examined the markets for textile rental services in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Great Britain.

Workwear Dominates, Cleanroom Textiles as an Emerging Niche

Workwear dominates the Western European market as the largest product group with an impressive market share of 36.5%, followed by linen services which account for 27.2% of the market. This versatile category is indispensable not only in the hotel & gastronomy segment, but also in industry, handcraft and trade and the healthcare sector. Separately, two other products can be distinguished: protective clothing and cleanroom textiles. While protective clothing – which protects workers from extreme temperatures and other hazards – saw an impressive growth rate of 10.2% in 2023, cleanroom textiles – designed specifically for controlled environments – showed an even stronger growth of 11.6%. Despite this rapid growth, the market share of cleanroom textiles in Western Europe remains comparatively small at just 4.8%.

Top 5 Cover Half of the Market

The positive development is reflected not only in sales growth, but also in the expansion of the service offering and the geographical reach of the providers. “Many companies are investing more in modern laundry technologies and environmentally friendly processes in order to meet increasing demands,” explains Laszlo Barla, author of the study. Elis from France is the market leader in Western Europe and offers a comprehensive range for all products and customer segments. Important competitors in the industry are Bardusch, CWS, DBL, Johnson Service Group, Mewa and Rentokil-Initial. CWS, based in Duisburg, plays a significant role in hygiene with a focus on mats and washroom solutions. Overall, the top 5 companies have a market share of around 48%.

The market for textile rental services in the CEE countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania) achieved impressive growth of 15.8% last year to a volume of €526.6 million. According to a study by Interconnection Consulting the market shows a further increase of 5.6% for 2024, which indicates an increasingly dynamic and future-oriented market environment.

Poland as Market Leader and Romania in the Initial Stage

The market for textile rental services in the CEE region is showing impressive growth, with Poland emerging as the clear market leader. With a market volume of 232.5 million euros in 2023, Poland takes the top position. This makes it clear that the market for textile rental services in CEE is still in its early development phase and offers great potential for further growth compared to Western Europe. Romania in particular is currently in the initial phase of the market, with a comparatively low outsourcing share and only a few established market participants. The Czech Republic and Hungary follow with market volumes of 117 million euros and 88 million euros respectively, while Romania is still at the beginning of its market development.

Workwear Dominates the Market in CEE

At around 54%, workwear is the strongest product segment on the textile rental market in CEE. Companies are increasingly relying on high-quality and functional work clothing to meet the specific requirements of their employees and ensure professional standards. In second place is the linen service product, which accounts for around 14% of the market volume. This involves the provision of table and bed linen as well as other textiles for the hotel, gastronomy and healthcare industries. The mat service, which accounts for 10% of the market, includes the provision and maintenance of dirt catcher mats, but also anti-fatigue mats, which are of great importance both for hygiene and for improving the workplace.

Automotive Sector as an Important Customer

The industry, handcraft and trade customer segment is the largest customer in the CEE region. With a market share of 66.2%, this area dominates the market. The automotive sector is an important customer in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland. In comparison, the share of the hotel and gastronomy sector is 14.4% and the healthcare sector is 12.9%. Particularly noteworthy is the share of industry, handcraft and trade in the largest submarket in Poland, where this sector accounts for 74% of the market volume. In the Czech Republic, on the other hand, the health sector is particularly well represented, with a disproportionately high share of around a quarter of the total volume.

Major Players come from Western Europe

The main competitors are Elis (France), CWS (Germany), Lindström (Finland) and Salesianer Miettex (Austria), which together have a market share of around 54%. Study author Laszlo Barla comments: “The textile rental market in CEE is on an impressive growth path. The region offers enormous potential for companies that want to enter this dynamic market or expand their market shares.”