Food and beverage sales in the restaurant and foodservice industry are projected to total $789 billion in 2021, up 19.7 percent from 2020, according to the National Restaurant Association’s mid-year State of the Restaurant Industry update.
The report also found that despite a steady trend of job creation in the first half of the year, eating and drinking places are still nearly 1 million jobs, or 8 percent, below pre-pandemic employment levels and the restaurants and accommodations sector has one of the highest levels of unfilled job openings of any industry.
This is compounded by the fact that six in 10 adults have changed their restaurant use due to the rise in the delta variant of COVID-19. In addition, 19 percent of adults have completely stopped going out to restaurants.
"Faced with one of the most devastating and disruptive events of our lifetime, the restaurant industry has taken significant strides toward rebuilding over the first half of 2021," said Tom Bené, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association, in a statement. "Consumer expectations around dining out have changed, and the industry is continually adapting to not only meet, but exceed, these expectations. Restaurant operators, along with their partners throughout the supply and distribution chain, remain focused on providing diners with a safe and enjoyable experience, amid rising food and labor costs and challenges related to the pandemic. Given these factors, our outlook through the end of the year is one of cautious optimism."
Related: NRA Advocates Congress to Replenish Relief Fund; Danny Meyer Talks NYC Vaccination Requirement.