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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders across the globe. This was particularly hard for restaurants, which were often forced to close their doors to sit-down diners. As a result, many restaurants relied heavily on delivery, takeout, and other alternatives to sit-down dining. This included the pizza restaurant industry in the U.S. which, while known for offering delivery and takeout options, still suffered during this crisis. When surveyed, pizza operators, suppliers, and distributors were asked what share of sales were made online - 28.16 percent answered that none of their restaurants' sales were made online. Meanwhile, 8.77 percent stated that over 60 percent of their restaurant sales were made online.

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.

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.

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused restaurants all over Europe to close their dine-in operations, there was a noticeable increase in the number of users of food delivery services. For example, France saw a 24 percent increase of restaurant delivery users compared to pre-pandemic times. Meanwhile, more than half of the respondents from Spain intended to continue using food delivery services after the pandemic is over.

In March 2021, adults in the United States expressed a strong interest in going to a restaurant once the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was under control. Of the respondents surveyed, 30 percent stated that they were "very excited" about the opportunity to go to a restaurant and only six percent said that they were "not excited at all."

When will U.S. adults feel comfortable going out to eat again?

Although a significant number of adults in the United States expressed interest in revisiting restaurants after the coronavirus pandemic was under control, restaurant dining remained less common. From March 2020 onwards, the year-over-year daily change in seated U.S. restaurant diners showed a consistent decline over pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Online food delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic generated lockdown measures which made it harder for diners to eat inside restaurants. Subsequently, many diners in the United States ordered food online or through apps during the pandemic. During an April 2020 survey looking at the share of the U.S. public that ordered food online, by age, 18- to 29-year-old adults were the most likely to do so. Meanwhile, in the same month, the type of area where the U.S. public ordered the most food online was suburbia.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in social distancing measures and higher hygiene standards for restaurants across the globe. As a result, many restaurants had to change their practices, the pizza restaurant industry in the U.S. included. When surveyed, pizza operators, suppliers, and distributors were asked what COVID-19 best practices were used at their respective restaurants. The most common best practice was regularly and visibly wiping down sneeze guards, tables, door handles, etcetera. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 best practice used by the least amount of pizza restaurants was conducting regular third-party food safety inspections and showing results.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused Germany's 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 Germany, compared to 2019, was 42.79 percent on August 1, 2022.

According to the survey among Chinese restaurant owners in February 2020, around 57.6 percent of respondents said they were forced to close their dine-in and food delivery services during the COVID-19 outbreak. Only 11.1 percent of respondents said they could run their business as usual during this period.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit the restaurant industry hard in 2020. During a November 2020 survey in the United States, 29 percent of quick service restaurant operators stated that their staff levels were reduced to over 20 percent below normal. The exact same percentage of respondents noted that their staff levels were at or above normal when asked.

According to a survey conducted from 24th to 26th March 2020, only 11 percent of the Thai respondents stated that they still visited food outlets or restaurants after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic happened. Meanwhile, the same survey also revealed that more than half of the Thai respondents still visited grocery stores after the pandemic happened in the country.

During an April 2020 survey of consumers in the United States, 53 percent of adults between the age of 18 and 29 stated that they ordered food online or through an app from a local restaurant during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The food and hospitality industry was hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic as bars and restaurants were forced to shutdown due to health and safety concerns. As a result, most customers turned to digital platforms to order food from restaurants within their area.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a direct impact on French behaviors towards restaurants. However, according to a study conducted in October 2020, almost 60 percent of the French population stated potentially continue to go to restaurants in winter, even in enclosed spaces. Earlier in 2020, 53 percent of French people only went to a restaurant that scrupulously respected social distancing measures, therefore showing that the fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus in restaurants was still significant.

This statistics illustrates the share of population that intend to go to a restaurant after the coronavirus lockdown in Spain in May 2020. As of that date, over half of the surveyed population believed that they would not go to a restaurant unless the health crisis is officially over. Approximately 20 percent of those surveyed stated they will not go to a restaurant until there is a vaccine against COVID-19.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused Ireland's 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 Ireland, compared to 2019, was 138.12 percent on August 1, 2022.

In 2021, six out of 10 restaurants in the country sold take-out food due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, one in four restaurants have suspended operations, and eight percent have dissolved their businesses.