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Restaurants in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Disha Kartik Jeswanth Disha Kartik Jeswanth Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: December 2024 ANZSIC H4511a

Revenue

$21.3bn

2024-25

$21.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

175k

Businesses

27,421

Wages

$X.Xbn

Restaurants in Australia industry analysis

Shifting social trends have significantly influenced the Restaurants industry's performance over recent years. Consumers' busy lifestyles and high workloads have bolstered demand for restaurant meals and takeaway. Restaurants allow consumers to combine dining with leisure and avoid spending time on food preparation. Rising demand for food delivery platforms like Uber Eats has also supported industry revenue, allowing time-poor consumers to purchase home-delivered, restaurant-quality food. Overall, industry revenue is anticipated to have soared at an annualised 6.9% over the five years through 2024-25, to $21.3 billion. This includes an expected 0.8% dip in 2024-25.

Trends and Insights

  • A fall in discretionary incomes have weighed on the industry’s performance in recent years. Significant cost-of-living pressures have made consumers more cautious about their dining-out expenses.
  • Demand for low-cost dining has risen amid significant economic volatility. Consumers are reining in their spending at expensive restaurants and instead shifting their preferences to low-cost dining due to affordability concerns.
  • Restaurants are concentrated in areas with a high population. For this reason, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland house more than four-fifths of Australia’s restaurants.
  • Industry competition is intensifying. New restaurants are entering the industry to provide unique and trendy food options that fulfil Australia’s expanding foodie culture.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 6.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $21.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Restaurants are facing intensifying competition

  • Restaurant operators in Australia are facing strong internal competition from other restaurants and significant external competition from establishments in other hospitality industries like cafes, pubs and fast food joints. These food establishments have strengthened their competitive edge against restaurants, especially in capturing the lucrative inner-city white-collar market.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Restaurants in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Competition from other businesses is set to intensify

  • Substitute food establishments like pubs, cafes and fast food chains will improve their food quality and diversity over the coming years. More pubs are starting to rebrand, employing successful chefs to curate appealing menus.

Biggest companies in the Restaurants in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($short_0)
2025

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Restaurants in Australia industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Restaurants in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Premium dining, Mid-range dining and Low-cost dining. Premium dining is the largest segment of the Restaurants in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Greater takeaway possibilities have supported demand for low-cost dining

  • Low-cost restaurants rely on quick service, high table turnover and low-price food. These restaurants offer value-based meals with few extras. They have lower operating costs and higher takeaway revenue.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Restaurants mainly provide food and beverages for consumption on the premises. The industry includes licensed, unlicensed and BYO restaurants. The industry excludes cafes and coffee shops, theatre restaurants, catering services and shops that primarily offer takeaway food services.

What's included in this industry?

Premium diningMid-range diningLow-cost dining

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

FOODIEFOOD HANDLINGCOOK-CHILL

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 4511 - Restaurants in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

A fall in discretionary incomes have weighed on the industry’s performance in recent years. Significant cost-of-living pressures have made consumers more cautious about their...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Demand for low-cost dining has risen amid significant economic volatility. Consumers are reining in their spending at expensive restaurants and instead shifting their prefere...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Restaurants are concentrated in areas with a high population. For this reason, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland house more than four-fifths of Australia’s restaurants...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Industry competition is intensifying. New restaurants are entering the industry to provide unique and trendy food options that fulfil Australia’s expanding foodie culture.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The industry has no major players, as it’s highly fragmented and comprises many small restaurants. Restaurants focus on unique meal experiences because chain establishments a...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    Expenditure at restaurants is heavily dependent on real household discretionary incomes. Recent cost-of-living pressures have shrunk consumers’ frequency of visiting and aver...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Restaurants are experiencing difficulties in maintaining margins. On the one hand, cost-of-living pressures are biting into demand, and on the other, inflationary pressures a...

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Restaurants industry in Australia in 2024?

    The market size of the Restaurants industry in Australia is $21.3bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Restaurants in Australia industry in 2024?

    There are 27,421 businesses in the Restaurants industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Restaurants industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Restaurants industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 6.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Restaurants industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Restaurants industry in Australia is expected to grow.

    What does the Restaurants in Australia include?

    Premium dining and Mid-range dining are part of the Restaurants industry.

    How competitive is the Restaurants industry in Australia?

    The level of competition is high and increasing in the Restaurants industry in Australia.

    Related Industries

    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

    View all industries in Australia

    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in Australia include:

    • Australian Bureau of Statistics
    • Australian Taxation Office
    • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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