Beyond the deep-dish pizza and the iconic hot dog stands, Chicago's food and beverage scene is a colossal economic engine where 287,500 workers feed the city's soul and its bottom line, contributing billions in revenue from craft breweries and fine dining to bustling food trucks and innovative manufacturing.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Chicago's food and beverage industry employed 287,500 workers, accounting for 9.8% of the city's total employment with an average annual wage of $42,150.
- The hospitality sector in Chicago, including food service, saw a 15.2% year-over-year employment growth in Q4 2023, adding 12,400 jobs primarily in restaurants and bars.
- Women comprised 52.3% of the food and beverage workforce in Chicago in 2021, with 68% of them in serving roles earning median wages of $28,500 annually.
- Chicago's food and beverage industry generated $15.2 billion in total economic output in 2022, with $6.8 billion from direct sales.
- Restaurants in Chicago contributed $4.1 billion in sales tax revenue to state and local governments in 2023.
- Craft beer production value in Chicago metro: $1.2 billion in 2023, supporting $3.5 billion total economic activity.
- Chicago had 7,850 eating and drinking establishments in 2022, including 6,200 full-service restaurants.
- Craft breweries in Chicago metro: 180 operating in 2023, up from 120 in 2019.
- Distilleries in Chicago: 45 in 2023, producing over 2 million cases annually.
- Chicago consumers spent average $3,450 per capita on food and beverages away from home in 2022.
- 68% of Chicago millennials dine out weekly, preferring ethnic cuisines at 55% rate in 2023 survey.
- Delivery orders surged 42% in Chicago post-2020, with 32% of meals now delivered.
- Chicago beverage manufacturers produced 15.2 million barrels of beer in 2022.
- Food processing output value in Chicago metro: $12.8 billion in 2023.
- Bottled water production: Chicago plants output 450 million gallons annually 2023.
Chicago's food and beverage industry is a vast and growing economic engine for the city.
Consumer Behavior and Trends
- Chicago consumers spent average $3,450 per capita on food and beverages away from home in 2022.
- 68% of Chicago millennials dine out weekly, preferring ethnic cuisines at 55% rate in 2023 survey.
- Delivery orders surged 42% in Chicago post-2020, with 32% of meals now delivered.
- Craft cocktail consumption: 2.8 drinks per visit average in Chicago bars 2023.
- Vegan meal adoption: 22% of Chicagoans tried plant-based once/week in 2023.
- Average check size at Chicago full-service restaurants: $48.20 in 2023.
- 74% of Chicago shoppers prefer local craft beers over imports, per 2023 poll.
- Late-night dining demand: 41% of Chicago under-35s eat after 10pm weekly.
- Sustainable sourcing preference: 62% of diners seek farm-to-table in Chicago 2023.
- Coffee consumption: Chicagoans average 3.2 cups/day, 45% specialty brews.
- Pizza slice orders: Deep-dish 28% of total pizza sales volume in 2023.
- Non-alcoholic beverage trend: 35% increase in NA cocktail orders 2022-2023.
- Group dining: 52% of reservations for 6+ in Chicago 2023.
- Health-focused menu items: 48% of Chicago orders include salads or bowls.
- Loyalty program usage: 67% of frequent diners use apps for rewards.
- Brunch popularity: 39% weekend spend on brunch, avg $35/person.
- Ethnic fusion demand: 29% growth in orders for fusion dishes 2023.
- Wine by glass preference: 61% over bottles in casual dining.
Consumer Behavior and Trends Interpretation
In the heart of Chicago, the modern diner has become a complex creature: they're a late-night, farm-to-table-seeking group who splits a bottle of wine six ways over deep-dish, all while tracking their loyalty points and debating whether their third craft cocktail should have been a non-alcoholic one.
Economic Impact and Revenue
- Chicago's food and beverage industry generated $15.2 billion in total economic output in 2022, with $6.8 billion from direct sales.
- Restaurants in Chicago contributed $4.1 billion in sales tax revenue to state and local governments in 2023.
- Craft beer production value in Chicago metro: $1.2 billion in 2023, supporting $3.5 billion total economic activity.
- Food manufacturing GDP contribution in Cook County: $8.7 billion in 2021, 2.5% of metro GDP.
- Chicago's bar and nightlife revenue: $2.9 billion annually pre-pandemic, recovered to $2.6 billion in 2023.
- Catering and events F&B spend in Chicago: $1.8 billion in 2022, with corporate events at 45% share.
- Grocery and beverage retail sales in Chicago: $12.4 billion in 2023, up 7.2% from 2022.
- Distilled spirits economic impact in Chicago: $450 million direct revenue, $1.1 billion total multiplier effect in 2023.
- Fine dining revenue per capita in Chicago: $185 annually in 2022, highest in Midwest.
- Food delivery app commissions generated $320 million for platforms from Chicago orders in 2023.
- Chicago's vegan and plant-based F&B market: $650 million sales in 2023, 28% YoY growth.
- Hotel F&B departments revenue: $1.1 billion in Chicago 2022, 22% of total hotel revenue.
- Wholesale food distribution revenue Chicago hub: $22.5 billion in 2023, serving Midwest region.
- Brewery taproom sales: $280 million in Chicago 2023, 35% of total craft beer revenue.
- Ethnic restaurant revenues: $3.2 billion combined in 2022, Mexican at 28% share.
- Coffee shop chain revenue Chicago: $950 million in 2023, independents $420 million.
- Stadium and arena F&B spend: $145 million annually at Soldier Field, United Center combined.
- Quick-service restaurant sales growth: 9.8% in Chicago 2023, totaling $5.6 billion.
Economic Impact and Revenue Interpretation
Chicago’s food and beverage industry proves that whether it’s a fine dining meal, a craft beer, or a stadium hot dog, the city’s appetite is a multi-billion dollar engine that keeps the local economy thoroughly fed and watered.
Employment and Workforce
- In 2022, Chicago's food and beverage industry employed 287,500 workers, accounting for 9.8% of the city's total employment with an average annual wage of $42,150.
- The hospitality sector in Chicago, including food service, saw a 15.2% year-over-year employment growth in Q4 2023, adding 12,400 jobs primarily in restaurants and bars.
- Women comprised 52.3% of the food and beverage workforce in Chicago in 2021, with 68% of them in serving roles earning median wages of $28,500 annually.
- Chicago's craft brewery sector employed 4,200 full-time workers in 2023, with 1,200 in production roles averaging $55,000 salary.
- In 2020, food manufacturing in Cook County (Chicago metro) supported 45,600 direct jobs with an average wage 20% above the county median of $62,000.
- Bartenders in Chicago earned a median hourly wage of $14.85 in May 2023, with total employment of 18,500 across the metro area.
- The restaurant industry in Chicago recovered 85% of pre-pandemic jobs by end of 2022, reaching 210,000 positions from 247,000 in 2019.
- Hispanic workers made up 32.1% of Chicago's food service employees in 2022, concentrated in kitchen staff at 45% representation.
- Food delivery drivers in Chicago numbered 15,200 in 2023, with gig economy platforms employing 70% of them at average hourly earnings of $18.20 including tips.
- Chefs and head cooks in Chicago totaled 12,800 in 2022, with median annual pay of $52,300 and 5.2% projected growth through 2030.
- Chicago's distillery workforce grew 22% from 2019-2023 to 1,100 employees, driven by craft spirits boom.
- Fast-food workers in Chicago metro area: 78,400 employed in 2023, median wage $14.20/hour, 4.1% annual turnover rate.
- Sommeliers and beverage directors in Chicago's fine dining: 450 professionals in 2022, average salary $75,000 plus bonuses.
- Unionized food workers in Chicago: 28,000 in 2023, primarily UNITE HERE members with contracts covering 65% of large hotels' F&B staff.
- Entry-level dishwashers in Chicago: 9,500 jobs in 2022, hourly wage $13.50 median, 75% immigrant workforce.
- Event catering staff in Chicago conventions: peaks at 5,200 temporary workers per McCormick Place event weekend.
- Bakery production workers in Chicago: 7,200 employed, average wage $38,900, 3.8% growth 2021-2023.
- Food truck operators and crews: 1,800 workers across 450 trucks in 2023, seasonal employment averaging 6 months/year.
- Winemakers and cidery staff in Illinois (Chicago focus): 320 jobs, $60,000 avg salary, 12% growth since 2020.
- Nutritionists in Chicago F&B: 1,200 employed in corporate roles, median pay $68,000, 8% increase 2022.
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
While Chicago’s food and beverage scene is a potent economic engine where nearly one in ten workers find their livelihood, it remains a city of contrasts, pouring out craft beer dreams and fine-dining salaries on one side of the bar while serving up low-wage realities and stark gender and racial divides on the other.
Number of Establishments
- Chicago had 7,850 eating and drinking establishments in 2022, including 6,200 full-service restaurants.
- Craft breweries in Chicago metro: 180 operating in 2023, up from 120 in 2019.
- Distilleries in Chicago: 45 in 2023, producing over 2 million cases annually.
- Food trucks permitted in Chicago: 450 active in 2023 season, 200 more applications pending.
- Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago: 23 in 2023 guide, 7 two-star, 1 three-star.
- Farmers markets with F&B vendors: 150 across Chicago neighborhoods in 2023 season.
- Wineries and cideries in Chicago area: 25 urban wineries, 12 cider houses in 2023.
- Ghost kitchens in Chicago: 320 operational in 2023, mostly delivery-only.
- Rooftop bars and restaurants: 85 in Chicago 2023, seasonal operation average 7 months.
- Vegetarian/vegan restaurants: 210 dedicated spots in Chicago 2023.
- Coffee shops independent: 1,250 in Chicago proper 2023.
- Pizzerias: 3,100 across styles in Chicago metro 2023.
- Cocktail bars: 420 craft-focused in Chicago 2023.
- Food manufacturing plants: 1,420 facilities in Cook County 2022.
- Dive bars: 310 surviving in Chicago 2023 despite gentrification.
- Pop-up restaurants: 75 active monthly average in 2023.
- Seafood restaurants: 280 specializing in fresh catch 2023.
- Bakery cafes: 620 in Chicago 2023.
- Steak houses: 145 high-end in Chicago metro 2023.
- Juice bars and smoothie shops: 390 in 2023.
Number of Establishments Interpretation
Chicago's dining scene in 2023 is a gloriously crowded feast where you can get everything from a three-star Michelin tasting menu and a craft distillery's small-batch gin to a legendary deep-dish slice, all while debating whether to order from a ghost kitchen or a food truck, because the only thing growing faster than our number of rooftop bars is the line at the independent coffee shop next door.
Production and Manufacturing
- Chicago beverage manufacturers produced 15.2 million barrels of beer in 2022.
- Food processing output value in Chicago metro: $12.8 billion in 2023.
- Bottled water production: Chicago plants output 450 million gallons annually 2023.
- Meat packing facilities in Chicago area: Processed 2.1 million head of cattle yearly.
- Craft distillery output: 1.5 million proof gallons of spirits in 2023.
- Bakery goods production: 1.2 million tons annually from Chicago plants.
- Soft drink bottling: 850 million cases filled in Chicago facilities 2023.
- Dairy processing: 4.8 billion pounds of milk processed yearly.
- Snack food manufacturing: $2.4 billion output, 1.1 billion pounds produced.
- Frozen food production: 950,000 tons from 45 plants in 2023.
- Craft cider production: 250,000 barrels in Chicago area 2023.
- Confectionery output: 180,000 tons of chocolate and candies annually.
- Vegetable canning: 320 million cans from Chicago canneries yearly.
- Malt beverage exports from Chicago: $120 million value in 2022.
- Organic food processing: 15 facilities producing $650 million worth.
- Sauce and condiment manufacturing: 450 million bottles yearly.
Production and Manufacturing Interpretation
With enough beer to float the city and enough sauce to drown it, Chicago's formidable food and beverage industry stands as a monument to human ingenuity and our collective, delicious gluttony.
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