40+ Restaurant Industry Statistics You Should Know

Over recent years, the restaurant industry has changed massively. If you don't embrace these changes, you'll be left by the wayside as your competitors dominate the market. 

Thankfully, we've decided to put this short guide together to help you stay on top of the most important restaurant industry statistics that you simply must know. These food industry statistics can be the difference between smooth sailing and stormy seas. 

This list covers all aspects of the restaurant industry including the economics, employment stats, and much more.

Restaurant Industry Statistics

1. There are over one million total restaurants throughout the United States — so, you're never short on competition. (source)
2. Almost 50 percent of people eat out more than once a week, and 20% visit a restaurant at least once a week. (source)
3. Over 50 percent of the average household's food budget is spent in restaurants. (source)
4. 90 percent of diners look up a restaurant online before visiting. This is higher than any other kind of business. (source)
5. Around 4 out of 5 diners like to try different cuisine from around the world — this could be a good reason to consider diversifying your menu.
6. The average American spends just over 10 percent of their income on food.
7. 54% of restaurant owners say their profit margin is lower than it was pre-pandemic. Only 20% reported a higher profit margin.

Online Food Ordering Statistics

1. Digital sales will make up 54% of sales by 2025 — if you don't have a way for your customers to order online, you need to get one ASAP. (source)
2. Around 60% of people in the United States order takeout or delivery every single week. (source)
3. Online ordering is exploding. Digital ordering has grown 300% faster than dine-in for the past 8 years. (source)
4. Around three-quarters of consumers would prefer directly ordering from a restaurant rather than using a third-party delivery app. An online ordering solution can do wonders for your business.
5. 63% of consumers believe it's a more convenient experience to have their food delivered. (source)
6. Speed of delivery is ranked of the highest importance by customers with price and food quality following shortly afterwards. 
7. Annual sales for online ordering is $863 billion — make sure you don't miss out on your slice of this bountiful pie. (source)
8. Sales from delivery are expected to consistently rise for the next few years.
9. A third of online orders are over $50 with many customers admitting they're happy to spend more than they do when dining in. (source) 
10. Over 70% of restaurants have only one location. Fortunately, there’s nothing stopping these restaurants from launching multiple virtual brands. 
11. 37% of adults say they're not ordering online from restaurants as frequently as they would like.
12. 72% of millennials and 66% of Gen Z adults say getting takeout or delivery food is essential to the way they live

Restaurant Food Statistics

1. Farm-to-table is blowing up. 62% of consumers say they would prefer a restaurant that offers locally sourced ingredients. 
2. Don't underestimate the importance of breakfast. 55% of consumers are likely to order breakfast if it's offered all day long. (source)
3. While we all love a naughty treat every so often, healthy food is becoming increasingly popular as we all look to take greater care of ourselves.
4. Over 30% of restaurant owners update the menu monthly with around 25% opting to do it quarterly. 
5. The average portion size has almost doubled since the 1980s, so if you're looking to entice customers, don't be afraid to pile up your plates!
6. Food waste is a big problem in the developed world and donating your leftovers to local charities can win you plaudits in your community.
7. Paying attention to nationwide food trends can help your restaurant to stay one step ahead of the competition.
8. 51% of consumers say that eco-friendly food options would lead them to choose one restaurant instead of another 
9. 90% of operators say food costs are higher than they were prior to COVID-19

Restaurant Technology Statistics

1. Approximately 80 percent of restaurants are reliant on tech for some aspect of their operations — are you in the minority that's missing out? (source)
2. 41% of restaurants use tablets instead of pen and paper to take orders. Doing this reduces the chance of incorrect orders and unhappy customers. 8Cough Cough* Have you checked out Cuboh?
3. Most customers agree that equipping staff with technology is a great idea that only serves to improve their experience in your restaurant.
4. Customers would way rather pay at the table, so if your staff don't have handheld POS systems, you're really missing a trick.
5. Digitizing your inventory can help you to save money by reducing food waste, gain a better grasp of your profit margins, and reduce unnecessary overspending.
6. 78% of quickservice operators say they plan to make more use of tech and automation in 2022.

Restaurant Staffing Statistics

1. Turnover in the restaurant industry is 75% and is incredibly high everywhere in the United States. (source)
2. According to the National Restaurant Association, "It costs roughly $2,000 to recruit and train a new hire" and that figure jumps to "about $15,000" for managers (source)  
3. 87% value when restaurants provide them with training and professional development. (source)
4. Yet only 68% of restaurant owners provide a handbook to new hires despite the documented benefits of doing so. (source)
5. Restaurants employ more female and minority managers than any other industry. 
6. 40% of employees with inadequate training and development leave the job within a year. Which means the cost of hiring is largely wasted. 
7. Around 50% of  fullservice, quickservice, and fast-casual operators expect that hiring and retaining employees to be their top challenge in 2022. 
8. 75% of restauranteurs say they plan to invest more resources to recruiting and retaining employees.

Restaurant Marketing Statistics

1. 90 percent of diners look up a restaurant online before visiting. This is higher than any other kind of business. (source)
2. Two-thirds of restaurant owners spend money on social media marketing campaigns. (source)
3. Almost 50% of regular restaurant consumers would be more loyal if a loyalty program was in place — no surprises there, right? (source)
4. 45% of U.S. restaurant goers say they’ve tried out a new restaurant after seeing a posts on social media

What These Stats Mean for Restaurants

• Don't cut costs by sourcing cheaper ingredients. The majority of consumers visit a restaurant based on the quality of food it serves. 
• In terms of restaurant technology, online ordering is a must-have
• Ordering via mobile devices to the table is a great option to have for your diners but be especially if your customers are of a younger demographic. 
• Kitchen display screens are eco-friendly and help your entire restaurant move in a timelier manner.
• A POS system can help you to streamline your operations by centralizing orders and save you an enormous amount of time and effort.
• Always check out what the competition is serving up, particularly restaurants with good online reviews.

Hopefully, with these statistics in mind, you can make some changes to the way in which your restaurant operates and reap the rewards for many years to come. 

Here at Cuboh, we provide a revolutionary point of sales service that allows you to compile all of your digital orders on one single device. Our software seamlessly integrates with your existing POS to make life a whole lot easier for your staff and every dining experience perfect for your customers.

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