The global restaurant industry was seriously impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Social distancing measures and general caution towards public places caused many consumers to dine out less. According to the source, the year-over-year change of seated diners in restaurants worldwide, compared to 2019, was 0.81 percent on August 1, 2022.

Has the global online food delivery sector grown due to COVID-19?

The market size of the global online food delivery sector was estimated to total 130.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, a figure that is forecast to grow to over 223 billion U.S. dollars by 2027. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and a subsequent lack of in-house dining, worldwide digital restaurant food delivery grew across various countries from 2019 to 2020. Digital delivery services are defined as meals or snacks ordered via mobile app, internet, or text message. In total, digital restaurant delivery increased 67 percent globally, with the United States increasing the most at 123 percent.

What is the leading restaurant chain worldwide?

When looking at the global restaurant landscape, the majority of the biggest brands are quick service restaurants (QSRs). In a 2021 ranking of the most valuable quick service brands worldwide, McDonald's came out on top, reaching a brand value of 154.9 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, Starbucks was a not so close second place, at approximately 60.3 billion U.S. dollars.

According to a survey on the food and beverages industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2020 post the COVID-19 pandemic, the largest shares of respondents of about 18 percent believed that frequent and visible sanitization of high touch surfaces as well as protective gear for staff were measures operators can take to increase their comfort in returning to dining out.

According to a survey on the food and beverages industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2020 post the COVID-19 pandemic, the largest share of respondents in Saudi Arabia of about 43 percent in 2019 were dining out occasionally before the pandemic.

As a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the comfort level of consumers going into public spaces changed - especially in areas where social distancing was a challenge. According to the source, 51 percent of the respondents in the United States expressed that they were a little nervous about eating out at a restaurant when the coronavirus pandemic improves and business reopen. In contrast, 23 percent of respondents expressed that they were very nervous to dine at a restaurant.

According to a survey on the food and beverages industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2020 post the COVID-19 pandemic, 54 percent of respondents in Kuwait stated that they were going to dine out less frequently than they used to.

According to a survey on the food and beverages industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2020 post the COVID-19 pandemic, 59 percent of respondents in Oman stated that they were going to dine out less frequently than they used to.

According to a survey on the food and beverages industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2020 post the COVID-19 pandemic, 52 percent of respondents in the United Arab Emirates stated that they were going to dine out less frequently than they used to.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused the United States' restaurant industry to take a huge hit. Due to measures of social distancing and general caution in public places, consumers were forced to dine out less. According to the source, the year-over-year change of seated diners in restaurants in the U.S., compared to 2019, dropped 9.18 percent on August 1, 2022.

According to a survey on the food and beverages industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2020, 69 percent of respondents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were expecting to spend less on dining-out in the next 12 months.

According to a survey on the food and beverages industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2020 post the COVID-19 pandemic, 27 percent of respondents in Oman stated that they were planning on resuming their dining out habits in the next one to three months.

According to a survey on the food and beverages industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2020 post the COVID-19 pandemic, 28 percent of respondents in the United Arab Emirates stated that they were planning on resuming their dining out habits in the next 6 to 12 months.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic severely impacted the restaurant industry in the United States in 2020. Due to social distancing measures and general caution in public places, consumers were dining out less. According to the source, visits to full service restaurants in the U.S. went down by 47 percent in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, quick service restaurants were not quite as badly affected, showing a YoY decline of 17 percent in Q2 2020.

In October 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, people who were dining out in Great Britain rarely ordered their food at the counter. Of those surveyed who had dined out in restaurants, bars, pubs or cafes in the lsat week, only around 30 percent had ordered at the counter to varying degrees. Many bars and restaurants only serve at the table to ensure distancing measures can be maintained.

According to a survey on the food and beverages industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in 2020 post the COVID-19 pandemic, 30 percent of respondents in Kuwait stated that they were planning on resuming their dining out habits in the next six to 12 months.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit the restaurant industry hard in 2020. During a November 2020 survey in the United States, 54 percent of casual dining restaurant operators stated that their staff levels were reduced to over 20 percent below normal. Contrastingly, 11 percent noted that their staff levels were at or above normal when asked.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused the United Kingdom's (UK) restaurant industry to take a huge hit. Due to measures of social distancing and general caution in public places, consumers were forced to dine out less. According to the source, the year-over-year change of seated diners in restaurants in the UK, compared to 2019, was 19.50 percent on August 1, 2022.

A survey conducted in March 2022 asked whether adults in the United States ate out at fast casual restaurants more or the same as before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Approximately 66 percent of Millennials ate out at fast casual restaurants more or the same as before the pandemic. Meanwhile, 49 percent of Baby Boomers ate out more or the same.

A survey asked whether adults in the United States were concerned about eating out at restaurants due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In 2020, 61 percent of respondents were concerned about eating out at restaurants, however, by 2022 this figure fell to 32 percent.

The coronavirus pandemic brought major changes to dining behaviors among restaurant-goers in the United States. Restaurant closures and social distancing measures resulted in an increasing demand for online food delivery, both directly through a restaurant's website or using a third-party delivery service. In 2020, the online restaurant delivery sector's share of the restaurant market was predicted to be 13 percent, before the pandemic this figure was forecast at nine percent. The post-coronavirus market share was expected to rise as much as 21 percent in 2025.

Approximately one third of respondents in Great Britain said they were comfortable with dining out indoors at restaurants during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, independently of the lockdown status of the area they reside in, as of October 2020. The share of respondents who expressed discomfort was lower, with 23 percent of those living in a local lockdown area uncomfortable with eating out, compared to 25 percent of those not living in a lockdown area.