Consumer foodservice grew in 2024 despite economic uncertainties and high inflation. Transactions recovery shows high demand but consumers are trading down and spending cautiously. Digitalisation assists restaurant operators to make strategic decisions and navigate market challenges and consumer preferences. Consumer expectations are for added value and ensuring their money is well spent. High competition creates a dynamic environment with constant innovation in products, services and occasions.

Consumer foodservice through standalone achieved small positive value sales in Switzerland in 2024. This channel benefits from the resumption of consumers’ out-of-home activities, following the era of the pandemic. Such locations are the most numerous, with sales also supported by the surge in takeaway and delivery services which are often tied to standalone locations. On the other hand, consumer foodservice through retail was the best performing non-standalone category in 2024, benefitting from

Consumer foodservice in Switzerland saw a slump in 2024, with value sales in a small sub-decimal negative-figure slump. Meanwhile, outlets saw marginal growth in numbers, while transactions saw small sales however, both saw a lower performance than witnessed in 2023. Compared to 2022 figures, on the other hand, value sales and transaction numbers were notably higher, while unit numbers were in a negative trend, so numbers of units have been recovering, even though transactions have slowed down.

Consumer foodservice operators in Ukraine continued to grapple with the challenges posed by the ongoing impact of Russia’s war. Tourism-dependent locations, particularly in the southern regions, faced significant issues due to the cessation of Black Sea resort activities and a sharp decline in international visitors. This decline adversely affected lodging-based foodservice establishments, leading to financial strain. Similarly, leisure venues continued to experience diminished demand as enterta

2024 marked the third year since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a backdrop that continued to shape the growth and development of the foodservice market in the country. Foodservice sales saw strong growth in current value terms in 2024 but also in terms of the volume of transactions. However, despite this, sales still remained well below 2022 levels in volume terms, albeit with the number of outlets and transactions rebounding significantly through 2023–2024. High inflation and infrastructure chal

Standalone stores remained popular in foodservice by location in Nigeria in 2024, thanks the notable footprint of such outlets across the country. With many chained brands looking to expand into untapped areas, such as smaller towns and even more rural areas, standalone outlets are growing each year. Standalone outlets are also able to incorporate drive-through options into their offers and, although delivery has seen a boom over recent years, drive-through options still remain a convenient and

Consumer foodservice maintained positive value growth in Nigeria in 2024, with outlets also maintaining small growth in numbers, while transactions remained low compared to the 2021-2022 period. Consumers’ purchasing power has declined strongly, due to various factors such as the removal of the fuel subsidy within Nigeria, disruption in supply chains, climate change, and devaluation of the local currency. All these factors have resulted in high costs for food, compounded by consumers’ weakened s

Consumer foodservice in Germany has faced a number of challenges. Since the pandemic, the industry has been impacted by major price increases due to inflation, including the impact of the war in Ukraine, leading to rising prices of food and beverages, but even more so, in terms of energy prices, where Germany has traditionally relied on cheap imports of gas and oil from Russia.

Consumer foodservice through standalone is the leading location for foodservice sales in Germany. A complete recovery in value sales terms and outlet numbers since the pandemic shows that consumers have mostly returned to their previous routines, driving growth for standalone outlets such as full-service restaurants and cafés.

In 2024, the overall performance of consumer foodservice in Indonesia showed a slowdown in value sales growth compared to the previous year, with mixed performances across channels. Street stalls/kiosks continued to experience strong growth in 2024, while full-service restaurants recorded positive but flat sales growth. The industry continued to face multiple headwinds from weakened consumer purchasing power, especially among the low- to mid-income segments, and the boycott of global brands amon

In 2024, consumer foodservice experienced mixed value sales growth across various locations, a result of sluggish economic conditions and weakened consumer purchasing power. These factors had a significant impact on the performance of different channels within the industry. Economic challenges such as inflation, rising raw material prices, and lower disposable incomes affected consumer spending habits, causing varying degrees of sales growth across different segments. Locations targeting high-in

International arrivals data from Statistics South Africa confirmed that the country’s tourism sector continued to grow in 2024, with total arrivals reaching 8.92 million, marking an impressive 5.1% increase compared to 2023. Africa continues to drive the majority of arrivals, contributing 76% of all tourists from January to December 2024, while growth from other regions signalled a steady recovery. This boost in tourism has been extremely beneficial to foodservice outlets in locations such as ma

Despite recording a positive performance in 2024, value growth of consumer foodservice in South Africa continued to slow. Local consumers faced several challenges in the first half of 2024, including political uncertainty, elevated food and fuel prices and high interest rates. Annual consumer price inflation was 5.6% in February 2024. However, after the national elections in May and the establishment of the Government of National Unity (GNU), this figure was down to 2.8% by October, the lowest r

Consumer foodservice in Brazil saw a slowing of growth in terms of current value sales and transaction volumes in 2024, along with a decline in outlet numbers. This year continued to be challenging for operators in Brazil, especially for smaller and independent players, mostly family-owned businesses. Rising costs was one of the main challenges. Inflation on food and beverages showed an accumulated price variation higher than the country’s general inflation index. What was behind the increase in

Standalone continues to be the most relevant location for the consumer foodservice industry in Mexico, maintaining its lead in terms of value sales, outlet numbers, and transaction volumes in 2024. This dominance is driven by Mexico’s diverse market and ongoing urban development, which make standalone locations highly attractive for both national and international investors. However, regarding growth, consumer foodservice through retail observed the most dynamic current value increase during 202

In 2024, consumer foodservice in Mexico observed a positive performance, with growth in sales in current value terms, transaction volumes, and outlet numbers. Both national and international brands of chained players were highly active in expanding their outlet numbers and investing in renewing their brands and locations. Examples of this include specialist coffee and tea shops such as Tim Hortons, Caffenio, and Tierra Garat, which have all been expanding their geographic presence at a rapid pac

Standalone continued to be the dominant location in consumer foodservice in Brazil in 2024; however, alternative spaces related to travel and leisure have also attracted the attention of restaurant chains. Parks, airports, hospitals, train and subway stations, places that traditionally aroused little interest, are beginning to attract attention, gaining investors in search of alternative spaces for their businesses and lowering operating costs. In recent years, there has been growing interest am

Consumer foodservice through standalone remains dominant in China, accounting for 72% of overall value sales and 80% of overall outlets in 2024. Other than independent providers, chained players are also tapping into standalone locations. For example, full-service operators such as Hai Di Lao Hot Pot and Xiabu Xiabu are increasingly opening community locations, to reduce their reliance on retail locations such as shopping centres. Nevertheless, standalone locations face regulatory complexities c

Consumer foodservice in China saw solid current value growth in 2024, although the momentum was weaker than seen the previous year, as growth in the industry tempered after post-pandemic recovery. Consumer trading-down presented the biggest challenge to players, with the majority of foodservice providers reporting a decline in spending per visitor. This was largely due to the dual factors of more cautious discretionary spending and increases in price discounts. Foodservice providers actively pro

Consumer foodservice in New Zealand witnessed marginal transaction growth in 2024 denoting a slight recovery on the previous year. Inflation continued to ease helping to lift consumer confidence, although many consumers still felt the pressure from several years of higher living costs. The recovery of inbound tourism to New Zealand has been beneficial to the local consumer foodservice industry. However, ongoing operational challenges continue to plague operators, including the issue of labour sh

In 2024, the New Zealand consumer foodservice industry witnessed a continued recovery, with travel-related locations maintaining growth due to steady flows of international and domestic travellers. Transactions through travel outlets were underpinned by heightened consumer activity at airports, train stations, and other high-traffic areas. This growth aligns with record levels of outbound travel numbers in January 2024, signalling robust demand for travel despite economic pressures. The resurgen

Consumer foodservice through travel and retail in the United Arab Emirates continued to grow in 2024. The local market’s position as a global travel hub continued to positively impact the growth of consumer foodservice. With millions of international visitors each year, the demand for diverse and high-quality dining experiences has surged. The strong appeal of the United Arab Emirates as a luxury shopping and experiential travel destination drives foodservice growth across airports, hotels, and

In 2024, consumer foodservice in the United Arab Emirates was shaped by a combination of economic resilience, evolving consumer preferences, and rapid digital transformation. The industry has continued to expand, bolstered by the local market’s status as a global tourism and business hub. The rise of experiential dining, fuelled by an influx of international visitors and high disposable incomes, has driven demand for premium and immersive food experiences. Food halls, fine dining concepts, and t

In 2024, consumer foodservice through retail was the best performing non-standalone category, while consumer foodservice through standalone saw foodservice value sales increase by 2%. Most office workers in Taiwan eat out for lunch on weekdays, which influences consumer foodservice sales by location. In northern Taiwan, many office workers dine in restaurants, get takeout, or order food delivery for dinner. However, these patterns are less pronounced in central and southern Taiwan. In the south,