Why postwar warships centralized their messing

Did postwar navies improve shipboard messing mainly because they needed to attract personnel?

Not mainly; changing internal layouts and equipment made centralized dining more efficient, healthier, and less wasteful while conscription and naval volunteering still supplied manpower.

A postwar manpower shortage does not by itself explain the change because conscription continued into the 1950s and the Royal Navy remained attractive to volunteers. Ships were also filling with more electronics, while fixed bunks replaced hammock spaces. Once a permanent dining area and adjacent galley existed, centralized food service became the practical arrangement. It also improved quality control, crew health, and the Navy's ability to limit waste when feeding large complements.