Beyond a staggering post-pandemic bounce-back, Denmark's restaurant industry is a powerful economic engine, serving up 4.8% of the nation's GDP in 2023 and dishing out a vibrant story of growth, changing tastes, and remarkable resilience.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the total revenue of Denmark's restaurant industry was 52.3 billion DKK, representing 4.2% of the national GDP
- The restaurant sector in Denmark grew by 6.8% in turnover from 2021 to 2022, driven by post-COVID recovery
- Fast food restaurants accounted for 28.4% of total restaurant revenue in Denmark in 2023, totaling 15.1 billion DKK
- The industry employed 112,000 full-time equivalents in Denmark's restaurants in 2022
- 65% of restaurant workers in Denmark were part-time in 2023, totaling 75,000 employees
- Average hourly wage in Danish restaurants was 145 DKK in 2022, up 4.5% from prior year
- 55.6% of Danish consumers ate out at least once a week in 2023
- Average spend per restaurant visit in Denmark was 285 DKK in 2022
- 72% of Danes prefer local cuisine when dining out in 2023 survey
- Denmark had 22,150 restaurant establishments in 2022
- Average restaurant size in Denmark was 45 seats in 2023
- 41% of restaurants in Denmark were independently owned in 2022
- Average profit margin for Danish restaurants was 8.7% in 2022
- EBITDA for the restaurant sector averaged 12.4% in Denmark 2023
- Food cost ratio was 31.2% of total costs in 2022 restaurants
Denmark's restaurant industry is thriving and growing significantly after the pandemic.
Consumer Behavior
- 55.6% of Danish consumers ate out at least once a week in 2023
- Average spend per restaurant visit in Denmark was 285 DKK in 2022
- 72% of Danes prefer local cuisine when dining out in 2023 survey
- Online reservations accounted for 45% of restaurant bookings in Denmark 2023
- 38% of consumers chose sustainable restaurants in Denmark in 2022, up from 25% in 2020
- Lunch visits made up 52% of total restaurant traffic in Denmark 2023
- 61% of millennials dined out 2-3 times monthly in Denmark 2022
- Vegetarian meal orders rose 28% in Danish restaurants in 2023
- Average group size for restaurant visits was 3.2 persons in Denmark 2022
- 49% of diners used loyalty apps in restaurants in 2023 Denmark
- Weekend dining peaked at 65% of weekly visits in Denmark 2022
- 73% of consumers read online reviews before choosing restaurants in 2023
- Alcohol consumption during meals was 68% in Danish restaurants 2022
- Family dining out frequency increased 12% post-2021 in Denmark
- 56% preferred outdoor seating in summer 2023 Denmark surveys
- Delivery orders represented 18% of total restaurant sales in urban Denmark 2022
- Health-conscious meals chosen by 44% of diners in 2023
- Price sensitivity led 37% to choose mid-range restaurants in 2022
- 82% of tourists dined at local restaurants during visits in 2023
- Repeat visit rate to favorite restaurants was 76% in Denmark 2022
- Organic food orders up 35% in restaurants per consumer surveys 2023
- Evening dining share was 42% of total visits in Denmark 2022
- 29% tried new restaurants monthly in Denmark 2023
- Couples dining accounted for 31% of visits in 2022
- Social media influence on choices was 54% in 2023 Denmark
- Low-carb menu popularity at 22% of orders in 2022
- 67% of seniors dined out less due to inflation in 2023
- Takeaway preference rose to 26% among young adults 2022
Consumer Behavior Interpretation
The Danish appetite for dining out remains robust and increasingly conscientious, with over half the population eating weekly, a strong preference for local and sustainable cuisine, a significant rise in vegetarian and organic orders, and nearly three-quarters of diners meticulously reading reviews—all while carefully balancing weekend socializing, weekday lunch practicality, and the economic pressures of inflation.
Employment & Labor
- The industry employed 112,000 full-time equivalents in Denmark's restaurants in 2022
- 65% of restaurant workers in Denmark were part-time in 2023, totaling 75,000 employees
- Average hourly wage in Danish restaurants was 145 DKK in 2022, up 4.5% from prior year
- Female employment in restaurants comprised 58.2% of the workforce in Denmark 2023
- Youth under 25 made up 32.4% of restaurant employees in Denmark in 2022
- Total restaurant jobs in Denmark reached 145,000 in 2023, including seasonal
- Labor turnover rate in Danish restaurants was 28.7% in 2022
- Chefs and cooks numbered 42,500 in Denmark's restaurant industry in 2023
- Waitstaff employment grew by 5.2% to 38,000 in restaurants in 2022
- 12.3% of restaurant workers in Denmark were immigrants in 2023
- Average annual salary for restaurant managers in Denmark was 458,000 DKK in 2022
- Sick leave days per restaurant employee averaged 7.2 in Denmark 2023
- Union membership among restaurant workers was 67% in Denmark in 2022
- Overtime hours in restaurants totaled 4.1 million annually in Denmark 2023
- Kitchen assistants numbered 18,200 in Danish restaurants in 2022
- Gender pay gap in restaurants was 14.5% in Denmark 2023
- Seasonal employment peaked at 25,000 extra jobs in summer 2022
- Training participation rate among restaurant staff was 22.3% in 2023
- Unemployment rate in restaurant sector was 3.8% in Denmark 2022
- Bartenders employed 12,400 in Denmark's restaurants and bars in 2023
- Labor productivity per employee in restaurants was 465,000 DKK in 2022
- 41% of restaurant jobs required vocational training in Denmark 2023
- Employee satisfaction score in Danish restaurants averaged 7.1/10 in 2022 survey
- Remote work adoption in restaurant management was 8.2% in 2023
- Total payroll costs for restaurants were 18.7 billion DKK in Denmark 2022
Employment & Labor Interpretation
Denmark's restaurant sector seems to be a youthful, part-time engine of employment with decent unionization and wages, yet it's fueled by high turnover, a stubborn gender pay gap, and millions of overtime hours, suggesting the industry serves a hearty side of hustle alongside its smørrebrød.
Establishments & Operations
- Denmark had 22,150 restaurant establishments in 2022
- Average restaurant size in Denmark was 45 seats in 2023
- 41% of restaurants in Denmark were independently owned in 2022
- Copenhagen hosted 28% of all Danish restaurants with 6,200 outlets in 2023
- Closure rate of restaurants was 4.2% in Denmark 2022
- New restaurant openings totaled 1,850 in Denmark 2023
- Fast food outlets numbered 4,120 nationwide in 2022
- Average operating hours per day for restaurants was 11.3 hours in Denmark 2023
- 67% of restaurants offered delivery services in 2022
- Energy consumption per restaurant averaged 250 MWh annually in Denmark 2023
- Waste generation was 1.2 tons per restaurant yearly in 2022
- Digital payment adoption reached 92% in Danish restaurants 2023
- Kitchen equipment investment averaged 450,000 DKK per new restaurant in 2022
- 55% of establishments had outdoor seating in Denmark 2023
- POS system usage was 88% among restaurants in 2022
- Average menu item count was 28 in Danish full-service restaurants 2023
- Sustainability certifications held by 23% of restaurants in 2022
- Peak occupancy rate averaged 78% on weekends in 2023
- Staff-to-seat ratio was 1:8 in Danish restaurants 2022
- Ventilation system upgrades in 34% of restaurants post-2021
- WiFi availability in 94% of urban restaurants Denmark 2023
- Average table turnover rate was 2.1 per evening in 2022
- Franchise restaurants numbered 2,450 in Denmark 2023
- Food cost percentage averaged 32.4% of revenue in 2022
- Reservation no-show rate was 12% in high-end restaurants 2023
- Multi-concept operations in 19% of establishments Denmark 2022
Establishments & Operations Interpretation
Despite Copenhagen's outsized hunger for new dining spots, Denmark's restaurant scene is a high-stakes dance where independent owners work grueling hours to keep their seats filled, only to be haunted by food costs, no-shows, and the ever-present threat of joining the 4.2% that don't make it to the next year.
Financial Performance
- Average profit margin for Danish restaurants was 8.7% in 2022
- EBITDA for the restaurant sector averaged 12.4% in Denmark 2023
- Food cost ratio was 31.2% of total costs in 2022 restaurants
- Labor costs represented 38.5% of operating expenses in 2023
- Average debt-to-equity ratio for restaurants was 0.65 in Denmark 2022
- Net profit per restaurant averaged 420,000 DKK in 2023
- Rent expenses were 9.8% of revenue in urban restaurants 2022
- Utility costs rose 15% to 2.1 billion DKK sector-wide in 2023
- Inventory turnover ratio was 12.3 times per year in 2022
- Break-even occupancy rate averaged 55% for restaurants 2023
- Tax payments by restaurant sector totaled 4.2 billion DKK in 2022
- Cash flow from operations averaged 650,000 DKK per establishment 2023
- Marketing spend was 2.7% of revenue in Danish restaurants 2022
- ROI on digital marketing was 4.2:1 in 2023 surveys
- Bad debt write-offs were 0.8% of receivables in 2022
- Capital expenditure per restaurant was 180,000 DKK annually 2023
- Gross margin averaged 68.8% before labor in 2022
- Insurance premiums cost 1.2% of revenue sector-wide 2023
- Average accounts receivable days was 18 in Denmark restaurants 2022
- Financing costs were 3.1% of total expenses in 2023
- Revenue per available seat hour (RevPASH) was 120 DKK in 2022
- Cost inflation hit food prices by 11.4% in restaurants 2023
- Profitability index for new restaurants was 1.15 in first year 2022
Financial Performance Interpretation
In the Danish restaurant scene, one is essentially juggling flaming kroner while carefully slicing an already modest 8.7% profit margin, all to ensure that each of the 12.3 annual inventory turns yields enough to cover the relentless 38.5% labor cost beast and still pay the taxman his 4.2 billion DKK.
Market Size & Growth
- In 2022, the total revenue of Denmark's restaurant industry was 52.3 billion DKK, representing 4.2% of the national GDP
- The restaurant sector in Denmark grew by 6.8% in turnover from 2021 to 2022, driven by post-COVID recovery
- Fast food restaurants accounted for 28.4% of total restaurant revenue in Denmark in 2023, totaling 15.1 billion DKK
- Full-service restaurants in Denmark generated 34.7 billion DKK in 2022, up 7.1% year-over-year
- The Danish restaurant market size was valued at 55.6 billion DKK in 2023, projected to reach 62.4 billion DKK by 2028 at a CAGR of 2.3%
- Cafés and bars contributed 12.9 billion DKK to Denmark's restaurant industry revenue in 2022
- Online food delivery sales in Danish restaurants surged to 4.8 billion DKK in 2023, a 22% increase
- The accommodation and food service sector, including restaurants, had a value added of 78.2 billion DKK in 2022
- Denmark's restaurant industry export value through catering was 1.2 billion DKK in 2022
- Pubs and taverns saw a 3.5% revenue growth to 8.7 billion DKK in Denmark in 2023
- The total number of restaurant enterprises in Denmark reached 18,450 in 2022
- Projected restaurant market growth in Denmark for 2024 is 3.1%, reaching 57.3 billion DKK
- Vegan and plant-based menu options drove 9.2% of restaurant sales growth in Denmark in 2023
- Denmark's restaurant industry GDP contribution rose to 4.8% in 2023 from 4.1% in 2020
- Fine dining segment revenue in Denmark hit 2.9 billion DKK in 2022
- Casual dining outlets generated 41% of total restaurant revenue at 22.6 billion DKK in 2023
- The restaurant sector's share of consumer spending in Denmark was 7.3% in 2022
- Denmark's foodservice market, dominated by restaurants, was worth 60.1 billion DKK in 2023
- Growth in quick-service restaurants was 8.4% to 16.2 billion DKK in 2022
- Total restaurant turnover index in Denmark increased by 112.5 points in 2023 (base 2015=100)
- Buffet and self-service restaurants revenue reached 3.4 billion DKK in Denmark 2022
- Denmark's restaurant industry saw a 15% revenue rebound in Q4 2022 post-restrictions
- Ethnic cuisine restaurants contributed 11.6% of market revenue at 6.4 billion DKK in 2023
- The sector's average annual growth rate from 2018-2023 was 2.7% in Denmark
- Hotel restaurants generated 9.8 billion DKK, 18% of total restaurant revenue in 2022
- Independent restaurants held 62% market share by revenue in Denmark 2023
- Chained restaurants grew revenue by 10.2% to 20.1 billion DKK in 2022
- Denmark's restaurant market CAGR forecast 2023-2028 is 2.9%
- Seasonal revenue peak in summer 2023 was 14.7 billion DKK for restaurants
Market Size & Growth Interpretation
Even after a pandemic, Denmark’s relentless appetite for everything from fine dining to fast food proves that the national pastime isn’t hygge—it’s handing over DKK.
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