Beyond simply fueling a city that never sleeps, New York's food and beverage industry is a colossal economic engine, generating over $45 billion in sales and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs while constantly evolving through trends from plant-based dining to high-tech ghost kitchens.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, New York City's food and beverage industry generated $45.2 billion in total sales revenue from restaurants and bars alone
- The food service sector in NYC contributed approximately 4.1% to the city's overall GDP in 2023, totaling $28.7 billion
- NYC's beverage manufacturing subsector produced $1.8 billion in value added in 2021
- NYC employed 450,000 workers in food and beverage services in 2023
- Restaurants accounted for 320,000 jobs in NYC as of 2022
- Bartenders and bar service staff numbered 45,000 in NYC 2023
- NYC had 25,000 restaurant establishments in 2023
- Bars and drinking places numbered 4,200 in NYC as of 2022
- Coffee shops and cafes: 3,800 outlets in NYC 2023
- NYC residents spent $18.7 billion on dining out in 2023
- Average check per restaurant visit in NYC was $45.20 in 2022
- Alcohol beverage spending averaged $22 per person weekly in NYC 2023
- 45% of NYC consumers prefer sustainable F&B, driving $5.2B premium spend 2023
- Ghost kitchens grew to 1,200 virtual brands in NYC 2022
- Plant-based menu items up 65% in NYC restaurants since 2019 to 2023
New York City's robust food and beverage industry is a massive economic engine.
Consumer Spending
- NYC residents spent $18.7 billion on dining out in 2023
- Average check per restaurant visit in NYC was $45.20 in 2022
- Alcohol beverage spending averaged $22 per person weekly in NYC 2023
- Delivery app orders totaled 250 million in NYC F&B 2022, value $4.1B
- Coffee consumption spending: $12.5 per capita monthly in NYC 2023
- Craft beer purchases: $8.3 per week average for NYC millennials 2022
- Grocery prepared meals spending up 22% to $3.9B in NYC 2023
- Fine wine retail spend: $450 annually per affluent NYC household 2022
- Street food expenditure: $15 average per visit, 80M visits yearly NYC 2023
- Plant-based alternatives spending reached $250 per capita yearly 2022
- Cocktail bar tabs averaged $75 for groups of 2-4 in NYC 2023
- Catering orders for events: $1,200 average in NYC 2022
- Food festival attendance spending: $45 per person at 50+ events yearly
- Non-alcoholic beverage market spend: $180 yearly per NYC resident 2023
- Pizza slice purchases: 500M slices sold at $3.50 avg in NYC 2022
- Hotel room service F&B: $28 average order value NYC 2023
- Farmers market purchases: $12 avg basket, $50M seasonal total NYC 2022
- Delivery fees and tips added $850M to NYC F&B in 2023
- Vegan dining out spend up 35% to $1.2B in NYC 2022
- Brunch spending averaged $52 per person weekends NYC 2023
- Craft cocktail consumption: 15M drinks sold at $18 avg NYC 2022
- Juice cleanse programs: $300 avg spend per cycle, 100K cycles yearly
Consumer Spending Interpretation
New Yorkers, in their relentless pursuit of culinary delight, will gladly spend a small fortune to avoid doing dishes, whether it's a $3.50 slice folded on the street or a $75 cocktail sipped in a velvet booth.
Economic Impact
- In 2022, New York City's food and beverage industry generated $45.2 billion in total sales revenue from restaurants and bars alone
- The food service sector in NYC contributed approximately 4.1% to the city's overall GDP in 2023, totaling $28.7 billion
- NYC's beverage manufacturing subsector produced $1.8 billion in value added in 2021
- Total payroll in NYC's food and beverage services reached $12.4 billion in 2022
- The industry supported $6.5 billion in tax revenues for NYC in fiscal year 2023
- NYC restaurant sales grew by 15.2% year-over-year in Q4 2023
- Craft beer production in NYC generated $450 million in economic output in 2022
- Food delivery services in NYC accounted for $3.2 billion in gross merchandise value in 2023
- NYC's wholesale food distributors contributed $8.9 billion to the economy in 2022
- The nightlife beverage sector added $2.1 billion in visitor spending in 2023
- NYC's food and beverage exports reached $1.2 billion in 2022, primarily craft spirits and specialty foods
- Independent restaurants in NYC generated 68% of total F&B sales in 2023, equaling $30.8 billion
- The sector's multiplier effect generated $2.50 in additional economic activity per $1 spent in 2022
- NYC's coffee shop industry produced $1.9 billion in revenue in 2023
- Bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages sales hit $850 million in NYC in 2022
- Fine dining establishments contributed $4.7 billion to NYC's luxury economy in 2023
- Street food vendors generated $320 million in annual sales across NYC in 2022
- NYC's wine and spirits retail sales totaled $5.6 billion in 2023
- Catering services in NYC reached $2.4 billion in revenue pre-COVID recovery by 2023
- The plant-based food market in NYC grew to $1.1 billion in 2023 sales
- NYC's food trucks contributed $150 million to local economy in 2022
- Hotel F&B outlets generated $3.8 billion in 2023
- NYC's bakery and confectionery sector output was $2.2 billion in 2022
- Event space beverage sales added $900 million in 2023
- NYC's soft drink manufacturing valued at $750 million in 2022 shipments
- Grocery store prepared foods sales reached $4.5 billion in NYC 2023
- NYC F&B tech startups raised $1.4 billion in VC funding 2022-2023
- Tourism-driven F&B spending was $12.3 billion in 2023
- NYC's dairy processing industry output $1.3 billion in 2022
- Overall F&B industry growth rate was 8.7% in NYC from 2021-2023
Economic Impact Interpretation
While New York City's food and beverage industry officially nourishes the GDP and tax base with tens of billions, unofficially, it runs on the city's relentless appetite for everything from a morning bodega coffee to a late-night slice, proving that the most essential infrastructure isn't made of steel, but of sourdough and craft spirits.
Employment
- NYC employed 450,000 workers in food and beverage services in 2023
- Restaurants accounted for 320,000 jobs in NYC as of 2022
- Bartenders and bar service staff numbered 45,000 in NYC 2023
- Food preparation workers totaled 120,000 positions in NYC 2022
- Chefs and head cooks employed 28,000 across NYC establishments in 2023
- Delivery drivers in F&B sector reached 65,000 full-time equivalents in 2023
- Supermarket and grocery staff in NYC F&B: 180,000 jobs in 2022
- Beverage manufacturing employed 12,500 workers in NYC metro 2023
- Waitstaff positions: 95,000 in NYC restaurants and bars 2022
- Kitchen support staff numbered 75,000 in NYC 2023
- Hospitality managers in F&B: 22,000 jobs in NYC 2022
- Cashiers in food services: 40,000 employed in NYC 2023
- Sommeliers and beverage specialists: 3,200 in NYC fine dining 2022
- Food scientists and technologists: 1,800 jobs in NYC F&B 2023
- Baristas employed 25,000 across NYC coffee shops in 2022
- Caterers and event staff: 18,000 seasonal jobs in NYC 2023
- Wholesale food sales reps: 8,500 in NYC 2022
- Bakers and pastry chefs: 15,000 in NYC bakeries 2023
- Brewery and distillery workers: 4,200 in NYC craft sector 2022
- Street vendor operators: 12,000 licensed in NYC 2023
- Hotel F&B staff: 35,000 jobs in NYC 2022
- Nutritionists in F&B: 2,100 employed in NYC institutions 2023
- Food truck crew members: 5,500 across NYC 2022
- Wine importers staff: 3,800 in NYC 2023
- Plant-based food production workers: 2,900 in NYC 2022
- Supermarket deli staff: 28,000 in NYC 2023
- F&B logistics drivers: 22,000 in NYC metro 2022
- Event bartenders: 9,000 freelance in NYC 2023
Employment Interpretation
While Manhattan may be fueled by ambition, it's quite literally built, served, and delivered by a small army of 450,000 food and beverage workers, proving that New York runs on coffee, doughnuts, and an astonishing number of people who know exactly how you like your sandwich.
Establishments
- NYC had 25,000 restaurant establishments in 2023
- Bars and drinking places numbered 4,200 in NYC as of 2022
- Coffee shops and cafes: 3,800 outlets in NYC 2023
- Food trucks licensed: 3,200 mobile units operating in NYC 2022
- Craft breweries: 150 operational in NYC metro 2023
- Distilleries: 120 craft spirits producers in NYC 2022
- Bakeries: 2,100 independent in NYC 2023
- Grocery stores with prepared foods: 1,450 in NYC 2022
- Fine dining restaurants: 450 Michelin-recognized or equivalent in NYC 2023
- Street food carts and stands: 10,000 permitted vendors in NYC 2022
- Wine bars: 650 in NYC as of 2023
- Vegan and plant-based eateries: 850 dedicated spots in NYC 2022
- Hotel restaurants and bars: 420 outlets in NYC hotels 2023
- Catering businesses: 1,200 licensed in NYC 2022
- Juice bars and smoothie shops: 750 in NYC 2023
- Pizzerias: 1,800 traditional in NYC 2022
- Seafood restaurants: 650 specialized in NYC 2023
- Rooftop bars: 250 in NYC skyline 2022
- Food halls: 25 major ones hosting 500+ vendors in NYC 2023
- Speakeasies and hidden bars: 180 in NYC 2022
- Butcher shops and meat markets: 420 in NYC 2023
- Farmers markets outlets: 150 weekly in NYC season 2022
- Bubble tea shops: 450 in NYC 2023
Establishments Interpretation
In a city perpetually in search of its next meal, New York's 25,000-strong culinary army—from 10,000 street carts to 450 temples of fine dining—stands ready to deploy a latte, a slice, or a craft cocktail, ensuring no craving, however niche, goes unfulfilled for long.
Trends and Innovations
- 45% of NYC consumers prefer sustainable F&B, driving $5.2B premium spend 2023
- Ghost kitchens grew to 1,200 virtual brands in NYC 2022
- Plant-based menu items up 65% in NYC restaurants since 2019 to 2023
- Contactless payments adopted by 92% of NYC F&B outlets in 2023
- Low/no-alcohol beverages sales surged 28% in NYC bars 2022
- AI menu optimization used by 35% of NYC independents in 2023
- Zero-waste kitchens in 420 NYC establishments by 2022
- NFT loyalty programs launched by 50 NYC F&B brands 2023
- Hyper-local sourcing: 78% of farm-to-table spots in NYC 2022
- Experiential dining events booked 2.5M times yearly NYC 2023
- Meal kit subscriptions: 450K NYC households in 2022
- Fermentation and gut-health menus up 40% in NYC 2023
- Pop-up restaurants: 1,200 hosted annually in NYC 2022
- Voice ordering via apps used by 55% of NYC millennials 2023
- Mushroom-based foods featured in 300 NYC menus 2022
- Subscription box for F&B grew 22% to $200M market NYC 2023
- Outdoor dining patios expanded to 8,000 seats post-2022 NYC
- Lab-grown meat pilots in 15 NYC spots by 2023
- Wellness beverages like adaptogens: $450M sales NYC 2022
- Collaborative kitchens shared by 650 startups in NYC 2023
- AR menus trialed in 120 NYC venues 2022
- Seafood sustainability certifications on 72% of NYC menus 2023
- Non-dairy milk usage up 50% in NYC cafes 2022
- Metaverse F&B events attended virtually by 100K NYC users 2023
- Hyper-personalized nutrition apps used by 30% of fitness-focused NYC diners 2022
- Canned wine sales boomed 35% in NYC retail 2023
- Regenerative agriculture suppliers for 250 NYC restaurants 2022
Trends and Innovations Interpretation
New York’s dining scene is now a high-wire act where saving the planet, courting Instagram, and installing a robot sommelier must all be accomplished between the contactless tap and the first bite of your mushroom steak, grown in a lab and served on a virtual patio.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NYCnyc.govVisit source
- Reference 2DATAdata.census.govVisit source
- Reference 3BEAbea.govVisit source
- Reference 4BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 5OPENTABLEopentable.comVisit source
- Reference 6BREWERSASSOCIATIONbrewersassociation.orgVisit source
- Reference 7STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 8IBISWORLDibisworld.comVisit source
- Reference 9NYCGOnycgo.comVisit source
- Reference 10TRADEtrade.govVisit source
- Reference 11NRAnra.orgVisit source
- Reference 12AMERICANEXPRESSamericanexpress.comVisit source
- Reference 13BEVINDUSTRYbevindustry.comVisit source
- Reference 14MICHELINmichelin.comVisit source
- Reference 15NYSLCBnyslcb.ny.govVisit source
- Reference 16CATERSOURCEcatersource.comVisit source
- Reference 17PLANTBASEDFOODSplantbasedfoods.orgVisit source
- Reference 18STREETFOODstreetfood.orgVisit source
- Reference 19HOSPITALITYNEThospitalitynet.orgVisit source
- Reference 20BIZBASHbizbash.comVisit source
- Reference 21CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 22FMIfmi.orgVisit source
- Reference 23CRUNCHBASEcrunchbase.comVisit source
- Reference 24NYCVBnycvb.comVisit source
- Reference 25USDAusda.govVisit source
- Reference 26MCKINSEYmckinsey.comVisit source
- Reference 27NYny.govVisit source
- Reference 28INDEEDindeed.comVisit source
- Reference 29NRAEFnraef.orgVisit source
- Reference 30DATAdata.ny.govVisit source
- Reference 31COURTHOUSENEWScourthousenews.comVisit source
- Reference 32STARBUCKSstarbucks.comVisit source
- Reference 33EVENTMARKETEReventmarketer.comVisit source
- Reference 34WINEBUSINESSwinebusiness.comVisit source
- Reference 35DISTILLINGdistilling.comVisit source
- Reference 36GUIDEguide.michelin.comVisit source
- Reference 37WORLDOFMOUTHworldofmouth.appVisit source
- Reference 38HAPPYCOWhappyCow.netVisit source
- Reference 39PIZZATODAYpizzatoday.comVisit source
- Reference 40ZAGATzagat.comVisit source
- Reference 41TIMEOUTtimeout.comVisit source
- Reference 42FOODHALLMAPfoodhallmap.comVisit source
- Reference 43THRILLISTthrillist.comVisit source
- Reference 44GROWNYCgrownyc.orgVisit source
- Reference 45YELPyelp.comVisit source
- Reference 46NIELSENnielsen.comVisit source
- Reference 47GRUBHUBgrubhub.comVisit source
- Reference 48NCAUSAncausa.orgVisit source
- Reference 49SOUTHERNWINEsouthernwine.comVisit source
- Reference 50DRINKMEMAGdrinkmemag.comVisit source
- Reference 51CATEREPORTcatereport.comVisit source
- Reference 52NYCEATSnyceats.orgVisit source
- Reference 53DOORDASHdoordash.comVisit source
- Reference 54HAPPYCOWhappycow.netVisit source
- Reference 55DIFFORDSGUIDEdiffordsguide.comVisit source
- Reference 56SMOOTHIEKINGsmoothieking.comVisit source
- Reference 57CLOUDKITCHENScloudkitchens.comVisit source
- Reference 58TOASTTABtoasttab.comVisit source
- Reference 59BISGbisg.comVisit source
- Reference 60RESYresy.comVisit source
- Reference 61COINDESKcoindesk.comVisit source
- Reference 62SLOWFOODUSAslowfoodusa.orgVisit source
- Reference 63EVENTBRITEeventbrite.comVisit source
- Reference 64HELLOFRESHhellofresh.comVisit source
- Reference 65FERMENTATIONASSOCIATIONfermentationassociation.orgVisit source
- Reference 66VOICEBOTvoicebot.aiVisit source
- Reference 67MUSHROOMCOUNCILmushroomcouncil.comVisit source
- Reference 68CRATEJOYcratejoy.comVisit source
- Reference 69GOODFOODINSTITUTEgoodfoodinstitute.orgVisit source
- Reference 70BEVNETbevnet.comVisit source
- Reference 71KITCHENSURFINGkitchensurfing.comVisit source
- Reference 72AUGMENTEDREALITYaugmentedreality.orgVisit source
- Reference 73MSCmsc.orgVisit source
- Reference 74PLANTBASEDNEWSplantbasednews.orgVisit source
- Reference 75DECENTRALANDdecentraland.orgVisit source
- Reference 76NUTRITIONIXnutritionix.comVisit source
- Reference 77WINEENTHUSIASTwineenthusiast.comVisit source
- Reference 78SOILASSOCIATIONsoilassociation.orgVisit source