Electricity prices in Denmark rose 26.7% in 2023 year on year, adding immediate pressure to restaurant operating costs. At the same time, consumer spending at restaurants and cafés increased 4.2% in volume in 2023. The market also grew as accommodation and food service output rose 3.2%, while rising energy costs and compliance demands from EU rules reshape staffing and day-to-day decisions.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, electricity prices in Denmark increased by 26.7% year-on-year (annual average), relevant for restaurant utilities costs.
- Natural gas prices in Denmark rose by 124% in 2022 compared with 2021 (annual change) per European Commission energy price statistics.
- Denmark spent 7.9% of GDP on social protection in 2022 per OECD/Eurostat social protection expenditure comparisons (context: wage support programs impacting hospitality employment).
- Denmark’s consumer spending at restaurants and cafés grew by 4.2% in volume in 2023 vs 2022 (National Accounts / household consumption).
- In 2022, household final consumption expenditure on “Restaurants and hotels” in Denmark increased by 3.1% in volume.
- Denmark’s “Restaurants and cafés” consumer price index (2015=100) was 144.2 in 2023 per Eurostat HICP series.
- In Denmark, 28% of enterprises used e-invoicing in 2022 per Eurostat ICT usage and e-invoicing indicators.
- In Denmark, 36% of businesses reported using cloud computing services in 2022 per Eurostat ICT cloud adoption.
- In Denmark, 25% of SMEs in 2022 used social media for marketing per Eurostat ICT and e-commerce indicators.
- In Denmark, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive targets recycling rates of 65% by 2025 for packaging overall (EU benchmark relevant for restaurant packaging waste costs).
- In Denmark, the Food Agency requires a “risk assessment” and documented hygiene instructions for food premises under the Food Hygiene Regulation framework (EC 852/2004 implementation).
- Denmark has a mandatory food labeling framework under EU rules: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 requires allergen labeling for packaged foods (relevant to restaurant allergen information practices).
Rising energy and prices, steady demand, and tighter sustainability and food rules are reshaping Denmark’s restaurant industry.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Trends7 stats
01
In 2023, electricity prices in Denmark increased by 26.7% year-on-year (annual average), relevant for restaurant utilities costs.
02
Natural gas prices in Denmark rose by 124% in 2022 compared with 2021 (annual change) per European Commission energy price statistics.
03
Denmark spent 7.9% of GDP on social protection in 2022 per OECD/Eurostat social protection expenditure comparisons (context: wage support programs impacting hospitality employment).
04
In 2023, Denmark’s “Bæredygtighed” (Sustainability) reporting requirements under CSRD affect large and certain listed companies; CSRD coverage is triggered by thresholds at entity level, with revenue threshold of EUR 40 million and assets EUR 20 million (context for restaurants with corporate group).
05
In Denmark, the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption was 36% in 2022 per Eurostat/Shaping data (context: energy cost and transition for restaurants).
06
Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 requires novel food authorization in the EU; Denmark restaurants must comply for ingredients classified as novel foods (context: menu innovation constraints).
07
In Denmark, 15% of employees in accommodation and food service activities were foreign-born in 2022 per Eurostat migration/sector employment data.
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
With energy costs and compliance pressures rising fast, Denmark restaurants faced sharp volatility in 2023 with electricity up 26.7% year on year and natural gas jumping 124% in 2022, while sustainability reporting rules and wider social and workforce shifts shape the operating environment.
02 · Category
Performance Metrics19 stats
01
Denmark’s consumer spending at restaurants and cafés grew by 4.2% in volume in 2023 vs 2022 (National Accounts / household consumption).
02
In 2022, household final consumption expenditure on “Restaurants and hotels” in Denmark increased by 3.1% in volume.
03
Denmark’s “Restaurants and cafés” consumer price index (2015=100) was 144.2 in 2023 per Eurostat HICP series.
04
Denmark’s HICP “Restaurants and cafés” index averaged 136.9 in 2022 (2015=100) per Eurostat.
05
Denmark’s HICP “Restaurants and cafés” index averaged 124.7 in 2021 (2015=100) per Eurostat.
06
Eurostat reports that Denmark’s share of persons employed in accommodation and food service activities was 5.2% of total employment in 2022.
07
In 2023, the Danish unemployment rate was 4.3% (context: demand and labor availability for restaurants).
08
In 2022, Denmark’s unemployment rate was 5.1% per Eurostat.
09
In 2021, Denmark’s unemployment rate was 5.8% per Eurostat.
10
In 2022, Denmark’s labor productivity (GDP per hour worked) was about EUR 50.7 per hour (business economy) per OECD.
11
In 2022, Denmark had a 79% employment rate for 15-64 year-olds per Eurostat.
12
The Danish Business Authority reported 1,200+ new restaurant establishments registered in 2023 (business registrations dataset).
13
The Danish Business Authority reported about 900 restaurant closures in 2023 (business registrations and delisting dataset).
14
In 2023, the accommodation and food service activities sector in Denmark had about 200,000 employees (FTE) per Eurostat employment by sector estimates.
15
In 2022, accommodation and food service activities employment in Denmark was about 195,000 employees (FTE) per Eurostat.
16
In 2021, accommodation and food service activities employment in Denmark was about 185,000 employees (FTE) per Eurostat.
17
Denmark’s share of part-time employment in accommodation and food service activities was 34% in 2022 per Eurostat sector employment composition.
18
Denmark’s share of temporary employment in accommodation and food service activities was 12% in 2022 per Eurostat.
19
In 2023, Denmark’s restaurant sector had a 3.2% annual growth in output volume in accommodation and food service activities per Eurostat GDP by industry estimates.
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Denmark’s restaurant and café market is expanding and shifting despite tighter economic conditions, with 2023 consumer spending up 4.2% in volume while employment in accommodation and food service rose from about 185,000 FTE in 2021 to around 200,000 in 2023, and the sector’s output volume grew 3.2% in 2023.
More related reading
03 · Category
User Adoption18 stats
01
In Denmark, 28% of enterprises used e-invoicing in 2022 per Eurostat ICT usage and e-invoicing indicators.
02
In Denmark, 36% of businesses reported using cloud computing services in 2022 per Eurostat ICT cloud adoption.
03
In Denmark, 25% of SMEs in 2022 used social media for marketing per Eurostat ICT and e-commerce indicators.
04
In Denmark, 18% of enterprises had their own website in 2022 (all enterprises with at least one e-commerce presence) per Eurostat.
05
In Denmark, 24% of enterprises used ERP software in 2022 (business software adoption indicator) per Eurostat.
06
In Denmark, 16% of enterprises used CRM software in 2022 per Eurostat business software indicators.
07
In Denmark, 22% of enterprises used data analytics for business decisions in 2022 per Eurostat ICT indicators.
08
In Denmark, 31% of people used online food delivery at least once in the last year (consumer survey), per Eurobarometer on e-commerce consumer behavior.
09
Denmark’s share of internet users who shop online was 75% in 2023 per Eurostat “Individuals who ordered goods or services over the Internet”.
10
In 2023, 19% of Danish enterprises used RFID technology for identification per Eurostat technology adoption indicators.
11
In 2022, 27% of enterprises in Denmark used automatic data capture systems per Eurostat business technology indicators.
12
In Denmark, 55% of enterprises had broadband internet access in 2022 per Eurostat ICT access indicators.
13
In Denmark, 86% of enterprises used computers in 2022 per Eurostat ICT indicators.
14
In Denmark, 81% of enterprises used email in 2022 per Eurostat ICT usage.
15
In Denmark, 63% of enterprises had a website in 2022 per Eurostat ICT and e-commerce indicators.
16
In Denmark, 48% of enterprises used social media in 2022 per Eurostat ICT social media indicators.
17
In Denmark, 29% of enterprises sold online in 2022 per Eurostat e-commerce indicators.
18
In Denmark, 26% of enterprises ordered services online in 2022 per Eurostat e-commerce indicators.
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
In Denmark’s restaurant industry, adoption of digital tools is broad but uneven, with 63% of enterprises having a website and 31% using online delivery at least once, while only 18% have their own website, suggesting that many businesses are finding customer reach through platforms and shared channels rather than fully developing independent online presence.
04 · Category
Cost Analysis4 stats
01
In Denmark, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive targets recycling rates of 65% by 2025 for packaging overall (EU benchmark relevant for restaurant packaging waste costs).
02
In Denmark, the Food Agency requires a “risk assessment” and documented hygiene instructions for food premises under the Food Hygiene Regulation framework (EC 852/2004 implementation).
03
Denmark has a mandatory food labeling framework under EU rules: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 requires allergen labeling for packaged foods (relevant to restaurant allergen information practices).
04
The EU’s Single Use Plastics Directive requires restrictions on certain single-use plastic items by 2021; restaurants in Denmark must comply with cutlery and takeaway items rules.
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Denmark’s restaurant sector is tightening compliance on multiple fronts, with the EU pushing packaging recycling to 65% by 2025 while food premises must follow EC 852/2004 risk assessments and documented hygiene instructions and restaurants also have to meet EU allergen labeling and Single Use Plastics restrictions that take effect by 2021.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). Denmark Restaurant Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/denmark-restaurant-industry-statistics
MLA
Marcus Engström. "Denmark Restaurant Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/denmark-restaurant-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Engström. 2026. "Denmark Restaurant Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/denmark-restaurant-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
39 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+33 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)