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Insights into the UK Restaurant Industry Amid the Coronavirus Outbreak: 36 Relevant Statistics

Relevant statistics and clean information from the Restaurant Industry is crucial during this pandemic outbreak. In this article, youÂ’ll be able to gauge the effects of this outbreak to the different sectors of the whole Restaurant Industry.

Statistics of the Restaurant Industry in the UK

Labor and Employment Statistics

156,000 fewer 16- to 24-year-olds are employed. The ONS says that this is because young people are more likely to be working in  areas such as hotels, restaurants and tourism.  (BBC)

Around 30 percent of the United KingdomÂ’s roughly seven million key workers are concerned about health and safety at work. (McKinsey and Company)

According to Harpers, the EOHO scheme enabled 200,000 staff in the pub and hospitality sector to come out of furlough early to cope with increased demand 

The Centre for Retail Research has stated that the total number of restaurants and casual dining outlets to have closed this year by the start of August 2020 was 1,467, 59% higher than the 922 that closed in the whole of 2019.

Due to the increased restrictions, survey shows that by February 2021, over 750,000 jobs will be lost against employment figures from February 2020 without further Government support.

Pubs, cafes and restaurants directly employ 4% of the UK workforce. (Economics Observatory)

Financial and Economic Impact Statistics

The overall impact on the economy has been similarly significant, with GDP declining by 5.8 percent in March alone putting Britain at the very start of an economic downturn on a par with the 2008 global financial crash. (The Guardian)

When the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced to avoid social venues such as pubs, bars, and restaurants the year-over-year decline in seated diners in UK restaurants went down by 52 percent on March 16, 2020, and by 82 percent on March 17, 2020. (Statista)

£30 million was generated by VAT on food and soft drink sales as a result of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

Evidence from consumer expenditure data shows that UK restaurant spending by households in April and May 2020 was 30% of its total in the same months of 2019. (Surico et al, 2020)

Restaurant groups experienced the biggest fall in like-for-like sales in the week prior to the announcement at 21 percent, while bar sales dropped by 14 percent. (Statista)

One study finds that compensating restaurants for social distancing policy will require a 17.7% wage subsidy (Koren and Peto, 2020). 

Resume of Operations Statistics

In a May 2020 YouGov survey, between 57% and 63% of respondents stated that they would feel uncomfortable about visiting restaurants, pubs and coffee shops when lockdown restrictions were lifted. 

The total number of hours people worked in August increased as parts of the economy reopened and people returned to work (BBC)

Business leaders within the eating and drinking out sector in the United Kingdom expected their biggest challenges for business recovery post-lockdown due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to be operational changes and Government regulations. (Statista)

As of October 21, 2020, the percentage of seated restaurant diners in the UK was around 26.54 percent lower than the last year’s figures. (Statista)

Sales at 7,000 chain outlets down 37% after 10pm limit imposed in England, Wales and Scotland (The Guardian)

Food and beverage services grew by 69.7% during August 2020. This was still 11.1% below the level of output seen in February 2020 with the help of Eat Out to Help Out scheme (Office for National Statistics)

Trust in food businesses had mostly strengthened under COVID-19, driven primarily by a perceived robust ‘return to normal’ after early disruptions like product shortages and issues with Deliveroo for restaurants. (Food.Gov.UK)

Restaurant Online Ordering and Food Delivery

Data from Kantar shows that delivery occasions saw a surge in the week before lockdown (16 to 22 March), with delivery trips up 57% year on year – suggesting that people are swapping dining out for takeaway food due to social distancing advice.

One in ten in the UK is set to try food service delivery for the first time as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis. (NDP Group)

About one third of the youngest respondents, aged between 18 and 24, would eat takeaway food several times a month, compared to just 13 percent of over 65s. (Statista)

Tesco, by comparison, has grown revenues by 10% through the crisis but has incurred about an extra £840m as it had to hire an additional 48,000 employees. (City Wire)

According to the snap poll on March 18, 2020, 60 percent of 18-24 year old surveyed had already increased the frequency they use delivery services. (Statista)

According to the snap poll conducted on March 18, 2020, Just Eat was the most popular operator, with 52 percent of respondents saying they currently use or plan to use them. (Statista)

80% of UK users of food delivery apps never or rarely switch between platforms (McKinsey)

Online delivery capacity doubled to 1.5 million weekly slots as a result of heightened demand at the peak of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK. (Econsultancy)

Social Media Engagement Statistics

The UK Government has announced a new initiative which will see it work with YouTubers and other social media influencers to help spread accurate information about the COVID-19 outbreak, and counter harmful misinformation being shared online. (Social Media Today)

Increased openness of the customers to new digital offerings introduced during the pandemic (84.8%) (Influencer Marketing Hub)

Three-quarters of middle-aged Brits are happy to snap a photo of their meal for social media, according to research. (Mirror)

“In the UK alone, Facebook has facilitated the formation of an estimated 300 local Coronavirus support groups, whose combined membership now totals more than a million people. (The Guardian)

The most searched term relating to food and drink on Google from January to April 2020 in the United Kingdom was “pizza”. “Takeaway near me”” was the second most searched term, followed by “takeaways”. (Pi Datametrics)

Up to 47 percent of UK consumers’ online orders have been affected by busy and overwhelmed services during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. About 40 percent of those surveyed said their ability to order takeout food online was reduced. (Internet Retailing)

Technology Integration Statistics

Technology investor Prosus thinks that artificial intelligence is reducing the cost of fulfilling orders by 40%.

The food sector stands out in terms of conversions to online restaurant ordering service, with a nearly 60% increase in conversions. (Influencer Marketing Hub)

42% of Britons use less cash due to the combination of events like online sales, lockdowns, and to avoid doing transactions that require touch. (Influencer Marketing Hub)

Key Points :

  • Government assistance is needed in order to prevent the Restaurant Industry from breaking.
  • Restaurateurs must take this situation to do a transition to online ordering and food delivery
  • Influencer Marketing is a sector to look out for.
  • The Restaurant Industry has supported a percentage of employment in the UK.
  • This pandemic reminded modern consumers about the importance of physical connection and celebration.