Germany’s hospitality sector is absorbing pressure from fast-rising costs while still producing growth signals, with value added climbing 5.2% in 2023. At the same time, restaurant inflation averaged 5.2% and wage costs rose 4.6% year-on-year in Q1 2024, tightening margins for operators. We look at how these shifts connect to turnover, staffing, energy prices, and digital adoption, including the 11.3% e-commerce share of retail sales that changes the competition restaurants face.
Key Takeaways
- €127.0 billion was Germany's food and non-alcoholic beverage services turnover in 2023 (current prices, wholesale/retail not included; sector turnover measure).
- Germany’s hospitality investment volume reached €4.6 billion in 2023
- In 2023, the “Restaurants and mobile food service activities” category in the CPI had an annual average inflation rate of 5.2% (inflation measure).
- Germany’s accommodation and food service activities grew by 5.2% in 2023 in value added terms (output growth).
- In 2023, the production index for accommodation and food service activities in Germany recorded a 1.8% year-on-year change in the same series (output index).
- In 2022, accommodation and food service activities employment increased by 1.5% year-on-year (employment growth measure).
- In 2022, accommodation and food service activities in Germany employed 1.1 million people (employment headcount measure).
- 19.3% of the workforce in accommodation and food service activities in Germany were part-time workers in 2022 (share of total employment).
- Germany’s retail electricity price for households in 2023 was €0.31 per kWh (utilities cost proxy relevant for commercial kitchens).
- Germany’s natural gas prices for non-household users were about €0.06 per kWh in early 2024 (energy cost proxy for foodservice).
- In Q1 2024, wage costs in Germany increased by 4.6% year-on-year (labor cost trend).
- Germany’s e-commerce share of retail sales was 11.3% in 2023 (online ordering baseline that can affect restaurant digital sales).
- Germany’s share of enterprises using social media for marketing was 28% in 2024 (digitization adoption relevant to restaurant marketing).
- Germany’s share of enterprises using cloud services was 38% in 2023 (cloud adoption for restaurant POS/operations management).
- In 2024, 7% VAT rate applies to restaurant food in Germany
In 2023, Germany’s hospitality grew to €127 billion in turnover while costs rose, employment expanded, and digital adoption accelerated.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size2 stats
01
€127.0 billion was Germany's food and non-alcoholic beverage services turnover in 2023 (current prices, wholesale/retail not included; sector turnover measure).
02
Germany’s hospitality investment volume reached €4.6 billion in 2023
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
Germany’s restaurant-related market size is substantial and growing, with food and non-alcoholic beverage services turnover reaching €127.0 billion in 2023 while hospitality investment hit €4.6 billion that same year.
02 · Category
Industry Trends3 stats
01
In 2023, the “Restaurants and mobile food service activities” category in the CPI had an annual average inflation rate of 5.2% (inflation measure).
02
Germany’s accommodation and food service activities grew by 5.2% in 2023 in value added terms (output growth).
03
In 2023, the production index for accommodation and food service activities in Germany recorded a 1.8% year-on-year change in the same series (output index).
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
For Germany’s restaurant industry, rising costs and steady output are shaping 2023, with restaurant-related inflation averaging 5.2% while accommodation and food service activities grew 5.2% in value added terms and the production index increased 1.8% year on year.
03 · Category
Employment & Workforce7 stats
01
In 2022, accommodation and food service activities employment increased by 1.5% year-on-year (employment growth measure).
02
In 2022, accommodation and food service activities in Germany employed 1.1 million people (employment headcount measure).
03
19.3% of the workforce in accommodation and food service activities in Germany were part-time workers in 2022 (share of total employment).
04
Germany’s unemployment rate was 5.9% in March 2024 (labour market context for staffing costs).
05
Germany’s share of employment in accommodation and food service activities by gender showed women at 44.7% in 2022 (workforce composition).
06
In 2022, 23.5% of workers in accommodation and food service activities in Germany had an immigrant background (share measure).
07
Germany had 29.8% of accommodation/food-service workers with temporary contracts in 2022 (share of employment by contract type).
Interpretation
Employment & Workforce Interpretation
In Germany’s accommodation and food service industry, employment rose 1.5% year on year in 2022 to 1.1 million workers, but the workforce is still heavily shaped by 19.3% part time work and 29.8% temporary contracts, underscoring a flexible staffing structure within the Employment and Workforce category.
More related reading
04 · Category
Cost Analysis4 stats
01
Germany’s retail electricity price for households in 2023 was €0.31 per kWh (utilities cost proxy relevant for commercial kitchens).
02
Germany’s natural gas prices for non-household users were about €0.06 per kWh in early 2024 (energy cost proxy for foodservice).
03
In Q1 2024, wage costs in Germany increased by 4.6% year-on-year (labor cost trend).
04
Germany’s minimum wage was €12.41 per hour in 2024
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In Germany’s cost analysis, energy costs stayed relatively low at about €0.31 per kWh for household electricity and roughly €0.06 per kWh for non-household gas, but restaurant operating expenses are being pushed up by labor with wage costs rising 4.6% year-on-year and a 2024 minimum wage of €12.41 per hour.
05 · Category
User Adoption4 stats
01
Germany’s e-commerce share of retail sales was 11.3% in 2023 (online ordering baseline that can affect restaurant digital sales).
02
Germany’s share of enterprises using social media for marketing was 28% in 2024 (digitization adoption relevant to restaurant marketing).
03
Germany’s share of enterprises using cloud services was 38% in 2023 (cloud adoption for restaurant POS/operations management).
04
Germany’s share of SMEs using e-invoicing reached 34% in 2023 (billing/digital adoption that can apply to hospitality).
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
In Germany, user adoption for restaurant-relevant digital tools is steadily building, with 38% of enterprises using cloud services in 2023 and SMEs reaching 34% e-invoicing usage the same year, while online retail and social media marketing support growth with 11.3% e-commerce share in 2023 and 28% social media marketing uptake in 2024.
06 · Category
Consumer Demand1 stats
01
In 2024, 7% VAT rate applies to restaurant food in Germany
Interpretation
Consumer Demand Interpretation
With a reduced 7% VAT rate on restaurant food in 2024, German consumer demand is likely supported by lower effective prices for dining out, reinforcing this demand-focused outlook.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Germany Restaurant Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/germany-restaurant-industry-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Germany Restaurant Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/germany-restaurant-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Germany Restaurant Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/germany-restaurant-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
21 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+17 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)