From a staggering €78.9 billion in total turnover to the sizzling €12.6 billion fast-food boom, the German restaurant industry is not just recovering—it's dynamically reinventing itself for a new era of diners.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the total turnover of the German restaurant industry reached €78.9 billion, marking a recovery of 15.2% from 2021
- The out-of-home catering sector in Germany generated €55.4 billion in revenue in 2023, with restaurants contributing 68% of that total
- Fast food restaurants in Germany achieved €12.6 billion in sales in 2022, up 8.7% year-over-year
- In 2022, the German restaurant industry employed 1.12 million people in direct positions
- Total workforce including part-time in restaurants: 2.1 million in 2023
- Average number of employees per restaurant: 7.4 in 2022
- In 2023, 62% of Germans dined out at least once a month
- Average spend per restaurant visit: €22.50 in 2023
- 41% of consumers prefer sustainable restaurants in 2023
- Number of full-service restaurants in Germany: 102,400 in 2022
- Total restaurant outlets: 152,300 across Germany in 2023
- Quick-service restaurants: 28,500 locations in 2022
- In 2023, 45% of restaurants adopted digital menus amid sustainability trends
- Energy costs rose 42% for restaurants in 2023, major challenge
- Labor shortage affected 78% of establishments in 2023
Germany's restaurant industry is bouncing back with robust revenue and rising consumer demand.
Consumer Behavior and Trends
- In 2023, 62% of Germans dined out at least once a month
- Average spend per restaurant visit: €22.50 in 2023
- 41% of consumers prefer sustainable restaurants in 2023
- Online reservations usage: 55% of diners in 2023
- Vegan menu demand: 18% of customers request options weekly
- Delivery orders per user: 4.2 per month average 2023
- Price sensitivity: 67% avoid restaurants with >5% price hikes 2023
- Regional cuisine preference: 49% choose local dishes 2023
- Group dining frequency: 35% weekly with friends/family
- Loyalty program participation: 42% of frequent diners 2023
- Alcohol-free beverage choice: 28% prefer in 2023
- Post-pandemic caution: 22% dine out less due to health 2023
- Outdoor seating demand: 61% priority in summer 2023
- App-based ordering in-restaurant: 33% adoption 2023
- Celebrity chef influence: 15% choice factor 2023
- Weekend peak dining: 58% of visits on Fri-Sun 2023
- Allergy-aware menus requested by 37% 2023
- Business lunch frequency: 24% daily/weekly 2023
- Social media influence on choice: 46% check reviews 2023
- Value-for-money rating: 71% top priority 2023
- Organic food preference: 29% always choose 2023
- Late-night dining: 12% post-10pm weekly 2023
- Family-friendly options sought by 53% 2023
- Cashless payment preference: 78% in 2023
- Health-focused menus: 34% growth in orders 2023
- Solo dining rise: 27% more since 2020
Consumer Behavior and Trends Interpretation
The modern German diner is a pragmatic yet passionate creature, navigating a landscape where they demand local, sustainable, and allergy-friendly plates for €22.50, overwhelmingly book online for weekend tables outdoors, and will loyally abandon you for a 6% price hike, all while quietly increasing their solo dining and health-focused orders as their social media research intensifies.
Employment and Workforce
- In 2022, the German restaurant industry employed 1.12 million people in direct positions
- Total workforce including part-time in restaurants: 2.1 million in 2023
- Average number of employees per restaurant: 7.4 in 2022
- Female employment share in restaurants: 52.3% in 2022
- Apprentice positions in restaurant industry: 45,200 in 2023
- Unemployment rate in hospitality sector: 3.8% in 2023
- Part-time workers in restaurants: 68% of total staff in 2022
- Chef de cuisine vacancies: 28,000 unfilled in 2023
- Service staff employment growth: 4.1% in 2023
- Average monthly gross salary for restaurant cooks: €2,850 in 2023
- Waitstaff average salary: €2,420 gross per month 2023
- Employee turnover rate in restaurants: 22.5% annually in 2022
- Foreign workers in German restaurants: 19.4% of workforce in 2023
- Training completion rate for restaurant apprentices: 68% in 2022
- Seasonal employment peaks at 300,000 additional workers in summer 2023
- Diversity: 12% disabled employees in restaurants 2022
- Remote/hybrid roles in restaurant management: 5.2% in 2023
- Overtime hours average per employee: 120 hours/year in 2022
- Union membership rate: 14% in restaurant workforce 2023
- Age distribution: 25-34 year olds 32% of staff 2022
- Sick leave days average: 12.4 per employee/year 2023
- Digital skills training uptake: 41% of workforce in 2023
- Manager positions: 85,000 in restaurants 2022
- Gig economy workers (delivery): 150,000 linked to restaurants 2023
- Sustainability training completed by 28% of staff 2023
- Post-COVID hiring recovery: +9.2% jobs in 2023
- 65+ year old workers: 8.7% share in 2022
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
Behind the veneer of a bustling, predominantly female and part-time workforce lies a stressed industry grappling with a chef shortage, high turnover, and modest pay, yet it's still managing a post-pandemic recovery while trying to fold in digital skills and sustainability—a precarious balancing act on a hot plate.
Establishments and Types
- Number of full-service restaurants in Germany: 102,400 in 2022
- Total restaurant outlets: 152,300 across Germany in 2023
- Quick-service restaurants: 28,500 locations in 2022
- Italian eateries: 12,900 establishments 2023
- Pubs and inns: 45,200 in 2022
- Hotel restaurants: 18,700 integrated outlets 2023
- Vegan/vegetarian specialized: 2,400 restaurants 2023
- Chain restaurants: 15% of total or 22,800 outlets 2022
- Michelin-starred restaurants: 327 in Germany 2023
- Food trucks and pop-ups counted as restaurants: 4,500 in 2023
- Bakery-cafes with full menus: 9,200 in 2022
- Asian fusion restaurants: 8,100 outlets 2023
- Closure rate post-2022: 4.2% or 6,400 restaurants
- New openings: 5,100 restaurants in 2023
- Berlin restaurant count: 12,500 in 2023
- Bavaria: 28,400 restaurants 2022
- Fine dining over 100 seats: 1,200 establishments
- Drive-thru facilities: 1,800 attached to restaurants 2023
- Rooftop/unique venue restaurants: 650 in major cities 2023
- Franchise outlets: 9,500 in restaurant sector 2022
- Ghost kitchens: 1,200 operational for delivery 2023
- Organic-certified restaurants: 1,800 in 2023
- Brewpubs: 2,200 microbreweries with restaurants 2023
- Airport and station restaurants: 950 outlets 2022
- Rural vs urban: 35% of establishments in rural areas 2023
- Multi-concept sites (restaurant+bar): 7,400 in 2022
Establishments and Types Interpretation
Germany's restaurant landscape is a hearty stew of 152,300 outlets where cozy pubs vastly outnumber Michelin stars, vegan spots are sprouting like chanterelles, and the eternal struggle between new openings and closures proves that securing a table is as competitive as a Bundesliga match.
Market Size and Revenue
- In 2022, the total turnover of the German restaurant industry reached €78.9 billion, marking a recovery of 15.2% from 2021
- The out-of-home catering sector in Germany generated €55.4 billion in revenue in 2023, with restaurants contributing 68% of that total
- Fast food restaurants in Germany achieved €12.6 billion in sales in 2022, up 8.7% year-over-year
- Full-service restaurants accounted for €42.3 billion of the industry's revenue in 2022, representing 53.6% market share
- The average annual revenue per restaurant in Germany was €518,000 in 2022
- Restaurant industry growth rate in Germany was 4.2% in real terms for 2023
- Total market volume for German restaurants projected to reach €85.2 billion by 2025
- In 2021, pandemic-impacted revenue for German restaurants was €68.5 billion, down 22% from 2019
- Italian restaurants generated €8.1 billion in 2022, the highest among ethnic cuisines
- Pubs and bars contributed €14.7 billion to restaurant sector revenue in 2022
- System gastronomy (chains) revenue hit €22.4 billion in 2022, 28% of total
- Independent restaurants' revenue totaled €56.5 billion in 2022
- Online delivery sales in restaurants surged to €5.8 billion in 2022
- Average revenue growth for upscale restaurants was 6.1% in 2023
- Mid-range restaurants saw €31.2 billion revenue in 2022
- Budget segment restaurants generated €9.8 billion in 2022
- 2023 Q1 restaurant turnover increased 7.3% YoY to €20.1 billion
- Projected 2024 revenue for German restaurant industry: €82.4 billion
- Export-related restaurant revenue (tourists) contributed €12.3 billion in 2023
- Inflation-adjusted revenue growth for restaurants: 2.8% in 2023
- Total restaurant industry EBITDA in 2022: €7.2 billion
- Profit margins averaged 4.5% for German restaurants in 2022
- 2022 revenue per capita from restaurants: €940
- High-end fine dining revenue: €2.1 billion in 2022
- Casual dining segment: €28.4 billion revenue 2022
- Revenue from vegetarian/vegan options in restaurants rose 12% to €3.7 billion in 2023
- Beer garden revenue: €1.8 billion seasonal in 2023
- Hotel-attached restaurants: €11.2 billion revenue 2022
- Street food vendors under restaurant umbrella: €0.9 billion 2022
- Overall restaurant market CAGR 2022-2027: 3.4%
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
Despite a pandemic hangover, Germany's restaurant industry is soberly marching toward a €85 billion recovery, powered by a hearty appetite for full-service dining and takeout, though its profit margins remain as slim as a Schnitzel.
Trends and Challenges
- In 2023, 45% of restaurants adopted digital menus amid sustainability trends
- Energy costs rose 42% for restaurants in 2023, major challenge
- Labor shortage affected 78% of establishments in 2023
- Sustainability certifications held by 22% of restaurants 2023
- Inflation impact: 31% price increases passed to customers 2023
- AI adoption for inventory: 15% of restaurants in 2024 forecast
- Zero-waste initiatives in 12% of urban restaurants 2023
- Post-COVID debt burden: €4.5 billion industry-wide 2023
- Contactless tech usage: 89% in 2023, accelerating trend
- Plant-based menu expansion: 67% of restaurants added items 2023
- Supply chain disruptions hit 56% due to Ukraine war 2023
- E-mobility for delivery fleets: 18% adoption 2023
- Regulatory burden perceived by 65% as top challenge 2023
- Tourism rebound boosted 23% revenue in tourist areas 2023
- Cybersecurity incidents: 9% of restaurants affected 2023
- Flexitarian customer growth: 52% menu adaptation 2023
- Insolvencies: 1,200 restaurant bankruptcies in 2023
- Hybrid work reduced business lunches by 14% 2023
- Local sourcing: 48% restaurants prioritize 2023
- Peak pricing models tested by 8% upscale venues 2023
Trends and Challenges Interpretation
German restaurants in 2023 were a masterclass in modern survival, where staff had to simultaneously fend off ghosts in the kitchen (thanks to a 78% labor shortage), navigate a 42% energy cost hike, placate customers with 31% higher prices, and somehow still find time to add plant-based dishes while avoiding cyberattacks and paying down a mountain of COVID debt.
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